Confused on vaginal cuff

I'm scheduled on March 24th for my DVH...I just recently started thinking about my visit with my doc...I guess I didn't listen closely enough maybe...He talked about having a vaginal cuff but I understood that I was only having my uterus removed..Is a cuff only used when the cervix is removed or is it used for uterus also??

I think I know where your confusion is. The cervix is the bottom of the uterus. Thus, if you are scheduled to have "only your uterus" removed, then your complete uterus with cervix will be removed and you will have a vaginal cuff created at the top of the vagina.

If you are scheduled for a partial (or supracervical) hysterectomy, then your doctor will cut the cervix from the rest of the uterus.

Since your doctor mentioned a vaginal cuff, then you need to speak to him for clarification as it sounds like your are scheduled for a complete hysterectomy but you may have thought you were having a partial hysterectomy

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Weiser-- I seen two doctors in the same office and the first one did say partial and the second mentioned the cuff, so that may be where I'm getting confused...I will definetley have to clear this up with the doc soon as i have my pre op visit...I know I want to keep my cervix. .There's no reason for it to be removed as far as we know as of now...I pray that doesn't change once he gets in there and has a better look at things...Fingers crossed!!!!

Brittney, make sure you say that and say it often, especially when you get to the hospital - to the doc and nurses... make sure yor 'orders' read what you want done.like you said, they may not know until they get in there.

Definetly will PaperPusher.....

I believe if you are having your uterus removed through your vagina the cervix has to be removed as well. You would need to have it done abdominally to keep it I believe. Question to clarify with the doc

MizMichele-- I was hoping for it to be done abdominally but the second doc I seen said it's not possible cause of my adhesions...Said he would hit my bladder once he made the incision since it's attached to.my uterus and abdomen...But I'm defietely going to clarify that I want to keep.my cervix....

If your cervix is removed, everything is removed vaginally.
If the cervix is kept intact, you have an abdominal incision and removal is through there.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Sollace If your cervix is removed, everything is removed vaginally. If the cervix is kept intact, you have an abdominal incision and removal is through there.

The uterus is removed in many ways besides these two. The entire uterus with cervix can be removed vaginally, through small lap incisions, through a single incision in the belly button, or through an abdominal incision. A partial hysterectomy (meaning the cernix temains) can also be done using all those same delivery methods except vaginal. Whenever the cervix is not removed, the upper portion of the uterus is not delivered vaginally.

Weiser--That helps hearing this... So glad I thought about this cause if i hadn't I would've woke up with an irreversible situation...Now I'm 100% sure this doc and I are NOT on the same page!!! Thanks again