Carrie Echols 6/23/09

7/14/2009

A gynecologist is a physician who has a successfully completed specialized education and training in the health of the female reproductive system, including the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases.

The education and training for both fields occurs at the same. Therefore, an obstetrician/gynecologist is a physician specialist who provides medical and surgical care to women and has particular expertise in pregnancy, childbirth, and disorders of the reproductive system. This includes preventative care, prenatal care, detection of sexually transmitted diseases, Pap test screening, and family planning.

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The fallopian tubes are a pair of tubes found in every female mammal. These two tubes, sometimes referred to as the oviducts or uterine tubes, are found in the pelvic cavity, running between the uterus and the ovaries. Approximately three to four inches long, the fallopian tubes are not directly attached to the ovaries. Instead, the tubes open up into the peritonial(abdominal) cavity, very close to

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Your fallopian tubes play an important part in ovulation and conception. Without your fallopian tubes, your egg cannot become fertilized and an embryo cannot reach your uterus for implantation.

Once an egg has broken out of its follicle, it is released from the ovary. Using a set of finger-like projections, one of your fallopian tubes grabs hold of the egg. Once the egg has been pushed inside the tube, tiny hairs help to sweep the egg along, until it reaches the uterus.

Your partner's sperm will fertilize your egg inside of your fallopian tubes. At this point the egg and sperm become an embryo. This embryo continues to be guided through your fallopian tube until it reaches the uterus for implantation. This can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Your fallopian tube contains a special lining to make sure that the embryo stays healthy during its trip.

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Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-

Oopherectomy

The removal of the uterus including the cervix as well as

the tubes and ovaries using an incision in the abdomen.

Hysterectomy is often performed on cancer patients or to relieve severe pelvic pain from things like, endometriosis or adenomyosis..

Hysterectomy is also used as a last resort for postpartum obstetrical hemorrhage or uterine fibroids, that cause heavy or unusual bleeding and discomfort in some women.

Transsexuals undergoing sex reassignment surgery as part of a female-to-male (FTM) transition commonly have hysterectomies and oophorectomies to remove the primary sources of female hormone production.

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Hysterectomy has been found to be associated with increased bladder function problems, such as incontinence

When the ovaries are also removed, estrogen levels will fall.

This removes the protective effects of estrogen on the cardiovascular and skeletal system.

A menopausal woman has a three times greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis, peripheral artery disease or of having a heart attack when compared to premenopausal women

Studies have also found that the risk of developing osteoporosis may increase.

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7/14/2009