Gynecologic Surgery

Gynecologic surgery is surgery that a doctor performs on part of the female pelvis.

UPMC Magee-Womens offers traditional surgery and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Our goal is to ease your symptoms and prevent future problems.

What Is Gynecologic Surgery?

Gynecologic surgery is surgery on part of the female pelvic area. Doctors use it to treat issues that affect the:

• Cervix
• Fallopian tubes
• Vagina
• Vulva
• Uterus

What types of gynecologic surgery do you offer?

The goal of gynecologic surgery is to ease and prevent symptoms. Your doctor will talk to you about whether you’re a good fit for minimally invasive surgery or if they recommend traditional surgery.

UPMC Magee-Womens uses minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery for most gynecological surgeries, which includes making small or no cuts and using special tools.

Compared to traditional surgery, minimally invasive surgery usually involves:

• Less pain.
• Small incisions.
• Less scar tissue at the surgery area.
• A faster recovery that lets you get back to your normal routine sooner. 
• Fewer complications like infection.

With traditional surgery, doctors use larger cuts to perform surgery. That usually leads to a longer recovery time.

UPMC’s doctors perform these gynecological surgeries:

• Diagnostic laparoscopy for conditions like endometriosis.
• Ectopic pregnancy resolution.
• Endometrial ablation.
• Excision of endometriosis.
• Excisional surgery.
• Fertility-preserving surgery.
• Fibroid removal.
• Hysteroscopy.
• Hysterectomy — including robotic hysterectomy and total abdominal hysterectomy.
• Myomectomy.
• Ovarian cystectomy.
• Pelvic organ prolapse repair (suspension surgery).
• Presacral neurectomy.
• Tubal ligation to prevent pregnancy.
• Vaginal hysterectomy.

Why Would I Need Gynecologic Surgery?

Your doctor may recommend gynecologic surgery if:

• You have a health condition that’s affecting organs or tissues in your pelvic area. 
• Other forms of treatment aren’t effective for that condition.
• You want a longer-term solution for an issue impacting your female pelvic reason.
• You want a permanent way to avoid becoming pregnant again.

What conditions do you treat with gynecologic surgery?

Doctors use gynecologic surgery to treat many different conditions.

These include:

• Abnormal bleeding in the pelvic region (uterine cavity).
• Cancer — including cervical and uterine cancer.
• Chronic pelvic pain.
• Endometriosis.
• Fibroids —which are benign tumors in the wall of the uterus.
• Ovarian cysts.
• Uterine prolapse.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease.

Gynecologic surgery is also used for tubal ligation, a form of permanent birth control.

What Are the Risks and Complications of Gynecologic Surgery?

Gynecologic surgery can sometimes cause complications during or after surgery. Your risks increase depending on your age, the extent of your condition, and your health history.

Your doctor and health care team will talk to you about how to reduce your risks from surgery. They'll also share how to spot potential problems after surgery. Dealing with complications right away may help prevent more issues.

Gynecologic surgery can increase your risk of:

• Blood loss and hemorrhaging.
• Infection and infection-related symptoms like fever.
• Puncture or damage to organs in your abdominal and pelvic areas.
• Thromboembolism — blood clots in your veins.

The most common complication after gynecological surgery is infection and fever.

Don’t put anything in your vagina after gynecologic surgery until your doctor says it's okay. Using tampons or having sex can increase your risk of infection.

What Should I Expect From Gynecologic Surgery?

You might feel tired after gynecological surgery. You may also have some discomfort and mild to moderate pain.

Be sure to go to your follow-up appointment after your surgery. Your doctor will talk to you about when you can return to work and resume other day-to-day activities.

What is the recovery time for gynecologic surgery?

If you had minimally invasive surgery, you may feel OK a few days to a few weeks after your surgery. If you had a traditional surgery with a larger cut, it may take you a month or more to recover.

Last reviewed by Chavone Dantrell Momon-Nelson, DO on 2024-09-05.