Women's Health Care Group

The physicians of Northern Jersey Obstetrics & Gynecology provide comprehensive surgical care for a wide variety of conditions, such as uterine fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, pelvic organ prolapse, cervical incompetence, and ovarian cysts. Whenever possible, they use minimally invasive techniques, including robotics, which carry several significant advantages over traditional, open surgery for eligible patients. When your ob/gyn performs a minimally invasive procedure, the incisions are smaller, there is generally less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a briefer recovery period. The surgical technique selected is based on multiple factors, including your specific medical condition and overall health status. Please talk to us about your surgery and any expectations you may have.

A hysterectomy is the removal of all or part of the uterus, and may or may not include the cervix (the opening of the uterus), the top of the vagina, and the ovaries. Hysterectomy may be indicated for women with fibroids that are causing significant pain and heavy bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding, cancer, endometriosis, or adenomyosis (thickening of the uterus). Usually, a hysterectomy for non-cancerous conditions is considered only after other treatments have failed.

The procedure can be performed abdominally or vaginally, and via open abdominal surgery or minimally invasive technique, including robotically. The approach your ob/gyn takes will depend upon the reason for the hysterectomy, your overall medical status, and possibly, other factors, that you and your doctor will discuss to determine what's right for you.

Myomectomy is the surgical removal of fibroids, which are benign tumors in the uterus. This procedure is an alternative to hysterectomy for fibroids that are troublesome and impairing your quality of life. For a woman who wants to become pregnant, myomectomy may increase her chances of a successful pregnancy. Before a myomectomy, your ob/gyn may attempt to shrink the fibroids with hormone therapy, making removal of the growths more manageable.

There are different ways to remove fibroids: a hysteroscopy enters the uterus through the vagina; a laparoscopy enters through small incisions in the abdomen; a laparotomy enters the uterus from a larger incision in the abdomen. The approach your doctor takes will depend upon the nature of your fibroids and your overall medical condition.

A D&C, or dilation and curettage, is a relatively minor surgical procedure of 10 to 15 minutes that involves scraping the uterine lining after a miscarriage or childbirth, as treatment for uterine bleeding, to remove polyps and fibroids, and to diagnose conditions such as uterine cancer.

During the dilation portion of the procedure, the cervix (the opening of the uterus) is widened to allow insertion of a spoon-shaped instrument your ob/gyn will use to scrape (curettage) and remove uterine contents. Sometimes, women will experience cramping and/or spotting or light bleeding following a D&C. You may feel groggy or nauseated after anesthesia. Patients can generally return to normal activities within two days, and should report heavy or prolonged bleeding, fever, pain, abdominal tenderness, or an unpleasant discharge.