Do I need a hysterectomy after HPV infection?

HPV is actually human papillomavirus infection. If this disease is high-risk, it will greatly increase the probability of cervical cancer for patients. Whether the uterus needs to be removed after HPV infection depends on the patient's actual condition. Removal of the uterus does not necessarily mean that the disease can be controlled, and there may also be persistent infection in other parts of the body.

Persistent infection with high-risk HPV is the culprit of cervical cancer

The human body has a strong immune system, and most high-risk HPV infections can be cleared in about a year. The remaining small part cannot be cleared and the infection will persist, but not all of them will turn into cancer. Most of them are safe, and only a small part will eventually become cancer or precancerous lesions.

Simply put, if the high-risk HPV is positive and the liquid-based thin-layer cytology test (TCT) is normal, most of the time, there is nothing wrong. Even if it turns into cancer, it takes a process. The time from precancerous lesions to cancer can be as short as 5-10 years or as long as 20-30 years. Please note that the time here is under the premise of uncontrolled, precancerous lesions being left alone. Physical examinations are so advanced now, won’t we take precautions if something is found out during the examination? Even if you don't take medicine, won't you be careful in your daily work and activities? This is a bit of "worrying too much"!

Even if the uterus is removed, there is still the vagina, vulva, and anus.

The mucous membranes and skin of the reproductive tract may be infected with HPV. Even if the uterus is removed, cervical cancer will not occur, but there are still the vagina, vulva, and perianal area, and the list is endless. Do we have to empty out everything underneath?

Would you be willing to have your heart removed to prevent heart disease? Therefore, there is no need to remove organs to prevent diseases that have not yet occurred.

HPV combined with TCT screening for cervical cancer once a year can reduce the missed diagnosis rate. Even if cancer occurs, it can be detected early and early cervical cancer is very effective and can be cured.

There is no specific medicine for HPV, and it mainly relies on one's own immunity. Traditional Chinese medicine can improve immunity!

So don’t think about using any medicine to kill HPV. All kinds of health products are basically unreliable. The most reliable thing is your own immunity!

To improve immunity, you must maintain good physical health, eat a balanced diet, eat more vegetables and fruits; maintain moderate exercise; have a regular work and rest schedule, don't stay up late; quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, etc. A healthy body can have good immunity, which can effectively prevent infection and cancer.

A more reliable measure to prevent HPV infection is to recommend that all women of appropriate age receive the HPV vaccine. Firstly, it is too expensive, and secondly, it is a preventive measure. If you have a fixed sexual partner and the frequency of sex is acceptable, then it is actually acceptable. Of course, it varies from person to person.

Indeed, not only everyone can think of it, but doctors can also think of removing the uterus, but there must be indications. If it is removed for prevention, you may end up lying in an ice coffin like "Snow White"! So who needs a hysterectomy?

Hysterectomy is only necessary when cervical cancer is caused by HPV infection. Invasive cervical cancer requires extensive total hysterectomy. In addition to the uterus itself, an additional 3 cm of the paracervical and vaginal walls must be removed. If young women still want to have children and their early cervical cancer meets certain conditions, they can just undergo cervical conization and regular check-ups.

If it is a precancerous lesion of the cervix, such as intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2-3) or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), adenocarcinoma in situ, etc., most of the time, only cervical conization can be performed, and the cutting edge is not involved in the lesion, and the uterus can be retained.

However, if the cervix is ​​atrophied after menopause and cone biopsy is not possible, direct hysterectomy is recommended. Even if cone biopsy is possible, we still recommend hysterectomy. Due to the lack of estrogen after menopause, the cervical epithelial transition zone, where cervical cancer is most likely to occur, will shrink into the endocervical canal, making it easy for hidden lesions to go undetected.

Hysterectomy also has adverse reactions

For women who are still menstruating, hysterectomy will cause the ovaries to decline about 2 years earlier, affecting their endocrine function.

After hysterectomy, the pelvic organs are incomplete, and there is a slight risk of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.

And some studies have shown that even removing the appendix has an impact on the human body, let alone the uterus, which is a complex organ? "Existence has reason", I agree with this statement!

In short, if the HPV test is positive, just wait and see; there is no need to have a hysterectomy. The key point is that the obstetrician and gynecologist will not perform a hysterectomy on you just because you are HPV positive. Therefore, it is possible to regulate your body with traditional Chinese medicine, adjust your daily living habits, and adopt a diet that can improve your immunity!