HYSTERECTOMY:
Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus or womb.
- Total hysterectomy (or complete hysterectomy), involves removal of the uterus and cervix (the narrow end of your uterus where it joins to the top of your vagina).
- Partial hysterectomy (or subtotal hysterectomy), involves the removal of the uterus and leaves the cervix.
- Vaginal Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and cervix through a small cut or incision high inside the vagina
- Total Abdominal Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and cervix. A total abdominal hysterectomy usually involves a bikini-line incision made horizontally across the pubic hair line. A vertical cut can also be done to explore the lymphnodes.
- Radical hysterectomy is an operation done to treat some cancers of the cervix. The surgeon takes out the uterus and the ligaments (tissue fibers) that hold it in place. The cervix and an inch or 2 of the vagina around the cervix are also removed. The top of the vagina soon seals with scar tissue and becomes a closed tube. Ovaries may or not may be removed.
ABDOMINOPERINEAL (AP) RESECTION:
Abdominoperineal (AP) resection is a type of surgery that may be used to treat colon cancer. The lower colon and rectum are removed, and a colostomy is made so that stool can pass out of the body. Sometimes the uterus, ovaries, and even the rear wall of the vagina must be removed, too. The remaining vaginal tube must then be repaired with skin grafts or with a flap made of skin and muscle. Without a rectum, the vagina becomes scarred down to the tailbone.
VULVECTOMY (REMOVING THE VULVA):
Removing cancer of the vulva is called a vulvectomy.
- A partial vulvectomy removes only the cancer and an edge of normal tissue around that affected area.
- The modified radical vulvectomy removes the cancer and an edge of normal tissue, as well as some of the lymph nodes in the groin. If there’s cancer in or very near the clitoris, it may need to be removed to be sure all the cancer is taken out.
- A radical vulvectomy, the surgeon removes the whole vulva. This includes the inner and outer lips, the clitoris, and often the lymph nodes that drain the vulva. The vagina, uterus, and ovaries remain.
- After a vulvectomy women may feel:
- Discomfort if they wear tight slacks or jeans because the “padding” around the urethral opening and vaginal entrance is gone.
- Fear that their parners may be turned of by the scarring and loss of their genital. The area around the vagina also looks very different.
- Less sensation around the vagina due to the scarring. If scarring narrows the entrance to the vagina a light caress and the use of a lubricant can help to prevent painful irritation.Vaginal dilators and physiotherapy can help to stretch the tissue. Vaginal mosturizers is also important for the tissue.
- Swelling of the genital areas or the legs due to the removal of the lymphnodes in the groin.
- Difficulty to reach orgasm all depending on how much of the vulva has been removed. If surgery has removed the clitoris and lower vagina, then orgasms may not be possible. Still, some women find that stroking the front inside part of the vagina, about 1 to 4 inches inside the opening, can feel pleasurable.
- Numbness in their genital area but the feeling may return slowly over the next few months.
PELVIC EXENTERATION:
Pelvic exenteration is used when cancer of the cervix or the rectum has come back in the pelvis after treatment.
In this surgery, the uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina, and sometimes the bladder, urethra, and/or rectum are removed.
With a total pelvic exenteration 2 ostomies are created (1 ostomy is for urine and the other is for stool). The vagina is usually rebuilt. Usually the outer genitals, including the clitoris, are not removed, which means a woman may still feel pleasure when touched in this area.