Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy refers to partial or total removal of a woman’s uterus. Hysterectomy has a long and somewhat controversial history that has spanned centuries and continues to surface during debates of women’s physical, sexual, and psychological health. Hysterectomy is still one of the most common medical procedures for women worldwide and can be performed vaginally, abdominally, or laparoscopically. This entry will discuss the history of hysterectomy, including ancient and modern perspectives, surgical methods for hysterectomy and potential complications, and social and psychological implications of hysterectomy.
Historical Background
The word hysterectomy has roots in the term hystera, the Greek word for womb. Hysteria was a term introduced later in ancient Egypt and Greece to refer to a range of medical symptoms exhibited by women and attributed to problems with the uterus, including problems with respiration, inability to speak, and other neurological issues. Hippocrates claimed that problems with speech were a result of the womb seeking…show more content… Abdominal hysterectomy involves making an incision in the abdomen, then removing a part or all of the uterus. The incision is then stitched, resulting in several days of recovery time and an abdominal scar. During a vaginal hysterectomy, an incision is made in the vagina, the uterus is removed, and the incision is stitched, usually resulting in decreased recovery time and no visible scar. However, laparoscopic hysterectomy is also performed, and involves using a laparoscope and surgical tools to perform a hysterectomy through several small incisions from outside of the body. The uterus is often removed through the belly button, or through the abdomen. The camera on the laparoscope transmits the surgical footage onto a screen for the health care providers’ reference. Robotically-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomies may also be