In the United States, 600,000 hysterectomies are performed each year, making it the most common non-pregnancy related surgery performed on women. Research predicts that more than one-fourth of U.S. women will have this surgery by the time they reach age 60. Fortunately, advanced technology called laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) brings a more convenient abdominal method, ensuring a speedy recovery, minimal scarring and reduced pain.

A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, which may or may not include the ovaries and fallopian tubes. A traditional hysterectomy requires anesthesia, a hospital stay of several days and up to six weeks of recovery. Hysterectomies are generally performed to treat fibroid tumors, endometriosis and uterine prolapse (a dropped uterus). For some conditions, a hysterectomy is the only treatment option.

LSH is an alternative to traditional surgery that offers reduced pain, scarring, stress to the body and recovery time. LSH uses a laparoscope—a thin, lighted, telescopelike video camera—and other small surgical instruments inserted through three or four tiny incisions in the navel and abdomen, allowing the surgeon to remove the uterus while leaving the cervix intact.

In today’s world, time is precious. Now, you don’t have to spend six weeks in recovery when LSH offers a drastically reduced healing period. LSH helps women return to the comfort of their own home typically the same day of surgery, resuming their normal routines in as little as one to two weeks. "My patients have said they were honestly surprised by how little pain they felt," says William McIntosh, M.D., Gateway Medical Center obstetrician and gynecologist. "They were pleased that having LSH didn’t mean they had to put their lives on hold." Scarring is minimized by replacing the traditional 6-inch to 12-inch incision with several half-inch incisions, which also leads to better cosmetic results and a quicker recovery. All surgical procedures, including LSH, involve risks. Patients should discuss their treatment options with their physician before making any decisions.