Hysterectomy is one of the most commonly performed gynecologic surgeries in the United States. Approximately 700,000 women undergo the procedure each year for a variety of conditions ranging from endometriosis to cancer. Unfortunately, 70% of these procedures are still performed through an abdominal incision (laparotomy ). This is termed "Total Abdominal Hysterectomy" or "TAH".

With rare exceptions (particularly some types of cancer) these hysterectomies can safely be performed vaginally (with or without the assistance of laparoscopy) or totally by laparoscopic techniques. Laparoscopy ("belly-button surgery") is commonly used to assist in the vaginal completion of the operation in those cases that would otherwise require an abdominal incision.

When the hysterectomy is being performed for endometriosis, laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) is preferable to an open procedure. In this circumstance, endometrial implants are removed along with the uterus (and possibly the ovaries). If endometrial implants are left behind (even when the uterus and/or ovaries are removed), Pain from endometriosis may continue after surgery. Operative laparoscopy allows the surgeon to accurately and completely remove implants of endometriosis prior to vaginal removal of the uterus.

If the hysterectomy is being performed for fibroids (regardless of their size or number), an abdominal incision (TAH) is rarely required to complete the operation. These procedures can usually be completed vaginally or with laparoscopic assistance. These cases are also amenable to laparsocopic supracervical techniques.

Patients undergoing hysterectomy for pelvic pain (for which no cause has been found) benefit from laparoscopic evaluation of the pelvis as part of their procedure. This allows the surgeon to inspect the abdomen and plan the proper procedure accordingly. If a cause for pain is identified, it is treated laparoscopically and the hysterectomy completed vaginally. If no reason is found for the pelvic pain when the pelvis is inspected laparoscopically, hysterectomy may not cure the pain.

Many patients who have had previous abdominal surgery (cesarean section, ovarian cysts, fibroids, adhesions, endometriosis, tubal pregnancy) are told they will require an abdominal incision to complete their hysterectomy. In most cases, this is unnecessary. A gynecologist skilled in laparoscopic surgery will usually be able to complete the hysterectomy using a combination of laparoscopic and vaginal techniques. This provides the patient with the unquestioned benefits of vaginal surgery and avoids those problems associated with an abdominal incision.

Regardless of the pathology leading to hysterectomy (with the exception of cancer) most patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy or laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) will go home within 48 hours of their surgery, some as early as 18 hours. Most are able to resume normal activities between 10 and 21 days following surgery. Barring complications (which may occur with any surgical procedure), vaginal hysterectomy and LAVH result in a savings of 1 to 2 days in the hospital and 2 to 4 weeks recovery.