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We're talking about women's health issues this week on Healthwatch. Every year, more than 60,000 women in the United States undergo hysterectomies. On average, women who have had this operation need about six weeks to recover fully. But a new surgical technique can shorten the recovery time significantly, saving not only time but also money.
Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center are now performing hysterectomies using laparoscopic techniques, in which the uterus and sometimes one or both ovaries are removed through tiny incisions. Dr. Mayra Thompson, a UT Southwestern gynecologist, says women who have this procedure experience less pain and are able to get back to work sooner. Women may not have to stay in the hospital overnight after the operation, and recovery time can be as short as one week.
Next: another benefit of this kind of laparoscopic hysterectomy.
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June 2005
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