Gynecology patients are seen at the Hospital & Seattle Medical Center, as well as our medical centers in Bellevue, Federal Way and Lynnwood. For more information about a hysterectomy, call (206) 223-6191.
Approximately one-third of the more than half-million hysterectomies performed in the United States each year are due to fibroids.
In a hysterectomy, the uterus is removed either through the vagina, or in a laparoscopic surgery, or in an open surgical procedure. A procedure is selected based on the size of uterus, previous surgery, other problems the woman might be having at the same time, and the preference of the woman. In all cases, the operation is performed while the patient is under general or regional anesthesia. It requires one to three days of hospitalization and a three- to six-week recovery period.
Hysterectomy is the most common current therapy for women who have fibroids and is effective in essentially all cases in which bleeding is a problem. It usually resolves the pain or urinary symptoms that women may have. It is typically performed in women who do not wish to have more children. It prevents recurrent fibroids and recurrent surgeries for fibroids and stops menstrual periods permanently. Studies have shown that a high percentage of women are satisfied with the procedure.