Vaginal Hysterectomy

Minimally Invasive Surgery, Benefits, and Costs

A Vaginal Hysterectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure where the uterus is removed through the vagina, eliminating the need for any abdominal incisions. This approach is often preferred for conditions like a prolapsed uterus, fibroids, or chronic heavy bleeding.

Compared to an abdominal hysterectomy, a Vaginal Hysterectomy offers faster recovery times, reduced pain, and minimal scarring, making it an excellent option for many patients seeking less invasive treatment.

Who is a Candidate?

Women who need removal of the uterus for benign conditions, particularly when the uterus is not very large.

Common indications:

• Uterine prolapse (most common).
• Symptomatic fibroids (small to moderate size).
• Heavy menstrual bleeding or adenomyosis not responsive to conservative treatment.

Best candidates: women who have had vaginal deliveries and no extensive pelvic scarring.

Recovery Timeline

This is likely to vary with provider.

• Hospital stay: 1–3 days (often shorter than abdominal hysterectomy)
• Early recovery: Walking within 24 hours; less pain than abdominal route
• Return to light activities: 2–4 weeks
• Return to normal activities/work: 4–6 weeks
• Full recovery: Around 6 weeks.

Benefits

• Less invasive than abdominal hysterectomy (no large abdominal incision)
• Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery
• Lower risk of wound infection and less postoperative pain
• Good option for uterine prolapse, with possibility to correct vaginal wall defects at the same time.

Risks

• General surgical risks: bleeding, infection, anaesthetic complications
• Injury to nearby organs: bladder, ureters, or rectum
• Vaginal vault prolapse in the long term
• Technical difficulty in women with large uterus, prior pelvic surgery, or no vaginal deliveries.

This is just an outline. Your specialist gynaecological surgeon will be able to talk to you about these issues in more detail and make sure that there is informed consent.

Vaginal hysterectomy is often considered the preferred route for benign disease when feasible, as it offers quicker recovery and fewer complications compared to abdominal surgery.