Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Women's Health >
  • ... >
  • Our Services >
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology >
  • Gynecology >
  • Gynecologic Surgery
Women's Health
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Gynecology
Annual Exam
Endometriosis & Pelvic Pain
Fibroid Treatment
Gynecologic Cancer
Midlife Health
Pap Smear
Pelvic Exams
Gynecologic Surgery
Hysterectomy
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS)
Urogynecology
Vulvar & Vaginal Health
Obstetrics
Behavioral Health
Cancer
Disability
Heart Care
Imaging
Pelvic Health
Perinatal Addiction Medicine
Tests & Procedures
Virtual Health Care
Our Locations
Women's Health
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Gynecology
Annual Exam
Endometriosis & Pelvic Pain
Fibroid Treatment
Gynecologic Cancer
Midlife Health
Pap Smear
Pelvic Exams
Gynecologic Surgery
Hysterectomy
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS)
Urogynecology
Vulvar & Vaginal Health
Obstetrics
Behavioral Health
Cancer
Disability
Heart Care
Imaging
Pelvic Health
Perinatal Addiction Medicine
Tests & Procedures
Virtual Health Care
Our Locations

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

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.


Find a Provider


Find a Location

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.


By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-09-05 by Chavone Dantrell Momon-Nelson, DO.

  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Perioperative Pathways: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery.
  • American College of Surgeons, Obstetrics and Gynecology.
  • Cureus, Intraoperative and Postoperative Complications in Gynaecological Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis.
  • Cureus, Robot-Assisted Surgery in Gynecology.
  • Faculty Reviews, Recent Advances in Benign Gynecological Laparoscopic Surgery.
  • UpToDate, Patient Education: Care After Gynecologic Surgery (Beyond the Basics).
  • UpToDate, Complications of Gynecologic Surgery.
UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login