What Are the Different Types of Hysterectomy?

Hysterectomy procedures today are safer and less invasive

An illustration of a woman's cervical area to symbolize hysterectomy.

Hysterectomy procedures today are safer and less invasive

If you have a condition that requires a hysterectomy or removal of the uterus, you’ll likely have many questions for your doctor. Why is it needed? What are the risks and side effects? What is the best type of hysterectomy for me?


“It’s normal to have concerns when you’re facing surgery,” says Tresa Lombardi, MD, an OB-GYN specializing in minimally invasive surgery at Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo. “Your doctor will explain the procedure in detail. It’s important to know that whenever possible the least invasive procedure is used.”

What is a hysterectomy?

During a hysterectomy, the surgeon may remove some or all the uterus and sometimes other parts of the reproductive system.


“Your doctor may recommend a hysterectomy when more conservative treatments, such as medications, have not been able to get your condition under control,” Dr. Lombardi says.


A hysterectomy may be performed to treat:



About 600,000 hysterectomies are performed each year in the United States. It is the second most common surgery that women undergo after C-sections.


Technological advances have improved the way this procedure is performed. Minimally invasive techniques can reduce pain after surgery, minimize complications and lead to a quicker recovery for women.

Types of hysterectomy

There are different types of hysterectomy.


A partial hysterectomy, also known as supracervical hysterectomy, removes the uterus and leaves the cervix intact.


A total hysterectomy removes the uterus and cervix. In certain cases, one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes may be removed. Removal of both ovaries can result in premature menopause.


A radical hysterectomy removes the uterus, cervix and part of the vagina. The ovaries, fallopian tubes and nearby lymph nodes may also be removed. This procedure may be necessary in certain cases of cancer.

Hysterectomy techniques

A hysterectomy can be done through the vagina, the abdomen or with laparoscopy.


“The choice will depend on why you are having the surgery, your medical history and the surgeon’s expertise,” says Dr. Lombardi, who has fellowship training in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. “Don’t hesitate to ask whether a surgeon has specialized training in less invasive procedures.”

What is abdominal hysterectomy?

Abdominal hysterectomy is open surgery. The uterus is removed through a large abdominal incision. Sometimes this incision is along the hairline, similar to a C-section incision. Other times this incision runs up and down on the abdomen.


Open surgery is one of the traditional techniques to perform hysterectomy. Drawbacks include increased pain after surgery, greater risk of complications and longer recovery time.


Open surgery may be recommended if:


  • The uterus is very large
  • The surgery is being used to treat cancer
  • The surgeon wants to check other pelvic organs for signs of disease

What is vaginal hysterectomy?

Vaginal hysterectomy removes the uterus through a small incision inside the vagina, with no abdominal incisions. This traditional minimally invasive technique generally causes fewer complications, less pain and faster recovery than abdominal procedures. 


This technique may not be an option with a larger uterus or when the surgeon wishes to evaluate other structures in the abdomen.

What is laparoscopic hysterectomy?

In laparoscopic hysterectomy, several thin surgical instruments and a tiny video camera attached to a telescope are inserted through multiple small incisions in the abdomen.


The surgeon can remove the uterus through a vaginal incision, a larger abdominal incision or by breaking it up into small pieces through a small abdominal incision.


This minimally invasive approach typically leads to fewer complications and a faster recovery compared to open abdominal surgery.

Robotic hysterectomy

Robotic surgery is a type of laparoscopic surgery which uses a specialized robotic system to assist the surgeon. This technology allows surgeons to perform more complex procedures and finer dissections.


Because this technique is laparoscopic surgery, the same benefits apply, including fewer complications, less pain and faster recovery compared to open abdominal surgery. Recovery after robotic surgery is essentially the same as laparoscopic surgery.

What are the risks?

Hysterectomies are generally safe, but problems can occur, as is the case for any necessary surgery. Risks include infection, bleeding, damage to nearby organs (bladder, intestines), reactions to anesthesia and blood clot formation. Complications are more common after an abdominal (open) hysterectomy, compared to less invasive procedures like laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy.

Keep asking questions

In some cases, a surgeon may begin the procedure using minimally invasive techniques, then discover that scar tissue or other challenges require an abdominal procedure. However, this is not common.


“Be sure to ask how often the surgeon begins the procedure one way but finishes it with open abdominal surgery,” Dr. Lombardi says.


Also don't be embarrassed to ask questions about life after the procedure.


“Some women may feel uncomfortable asking their doctors how the procedure may affect certain parts of their personal life, such as when they can start having sex again and what that’s going to feel like,” says Dr. Lombardi.


“In most cases, you’ll be able to have intercourse six weeks after surgery. Most women won’t have any changes in sexual function after hysterectomy. But If you do experience discomfort or bleeding during sex, let your doctor know.”


She says there are no hard or embarrassing questions, not when it comes to your health.