Hysterectomy Glossary

When it comes to hysterectomy, there is a whole other language, and knowing the key terms is essential. Seriously, it could save your life... or your ovaries! When I went in for my pre-op visit, the surgical orders stated, "tah w/ bso". Hold up! No, no definite bso here. I was able to get the word "possible" added in, and ended up saving my ovaries! So, you see, knowing the key terms can be pretty freaking helpful!

• Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (bas): Surgical removal of both fallopian tubes and ovaries.
• Cervix: The mouth of the uterus; a narrow canal that opens to the vagina.
• Complete Hysterectomy: Also called total hysterectomy, complete hysterectomy is the removal of the entire uterus, including the cervix.
• Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy (LSH): A hysterectomy which removes the uterus, but leaves the cervix, and is performed through three small incisions.
• Hysterectomy: Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. There are many different types of hysterectomies and different ways of performing the surgery.
• Partial Hysterectomy: Partial hysterectomy is also called subtotal hysterectomy. It is removing part of the uterus, but leaving the cervix intact.
• Oophorectomy: Surgical removal of one or both ovaries.
• Radical Hysterectomy: Normally performed on women with cancer, radical hysterectomy removes the uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, lymph nodes, lymph channels, part of the vagina, and surrounding tissues.
• Supracervical Hysterectomy: Another name for partial hysterectomy.
• Surgical Menopause: Menopausal symptoms brought on adruptly by the surgical removal of the ovaries.
• Swelly Belly: A term coined by Hyster Sisters to describe the swollen abdomen many women have following hysterectomy.
• Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (tah): Removal of the uterus and the cervix through an incision in the abdomen.
• Vaginal Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus through an incision in the vagina.