Gynecological Surgery

What is gynecological surgery?

Gynecological surgery is any type of procedure performed on women’s reproductive organs or lower pelvic region. In years past, performing gynecological surgeries often required making a large incision, so an OB/GYN could remove tissues or organs, for example, or take out masses or ovarian cysts.

But with advancements in modern technology, your OB/GYN can now perform the same types of gynecological surgeries by making just a few small incisions. With a laparoscopy, for instance, your OB/GYN inserts a tiny camera into one incision, followed by thin surgical tools in the surrounding incisions.

They perform your entire procedure with the surgical instruments by watching a computer monitor that receives a live feed from the camera (the laparoscope). Your OB/GYN can even perform minimally invasive gynecological surgery using advanced robotic technology, as with the da Vinci platform. 

Why do I need gynecological surgery?

Gynecological surgery is necessary for many reasons, from diagnostics to treatment. At All About Women OB/GYN, your dedicated practitioner may recommend gynecologic surgery to:

• Conduct a dilation and curettage (D&C), which is sometimes necessary after miscarriage
• Remove growths, masses, or abnormal tissues, possibly due to endometriosis
• Remove some or all of your reproductive organs (hysterectomy)
• Treat abnormal uterine bleeding, such as endometrial ablation
• Perform permanent birth control treatments, like tubal ligation
• Treat urinary incontinence or bladder leakage

The team at All About Women OB/GYN perform exploratory or diagnostic gynecological surgery if they’re unable to diagnose a condition based on laboratory testing and imaging. 

How long is the recovery after gynecological surgery?

Some gynecological procedures are performed under local anesthesia in the office, while others need to be conducted in an outpatient hospital setting while you’re under general anesthesia. In either case, you may need to have someone stay with you for about a day or two as the sedatives wear off.

You need to take it easy and rest as much as possible for at least a few days. For minor procedures, such as diagnostic laparoscopy, you should be back to most of your normal activities within a week.

But if you’re having a more complex procedure, such as a total hysterectomy, it can take anywhere from three to six weeks to recover completely. The compassionate team at All About Women OB/GYN care for you every step of the way and help you prepare for your surgery, no matter how minor or how complex. 

Learn more about gynecological surgery solutions offered at All About Women OB/GYN by booking an exam. You can schedule either online or over the phone.