In short, less invasive hysterectomy surgeries aren’t being performed due to:

• patients unaware of less invasive laparoscopic procedures
• lack of trained gynecologists
• lack of reimbursement and funding

Almost twenty years have passed since the laparoscope was introduced, facilitating less invasive procedures, yet 70% of hysterectomies are still performed via the “open” abdominal route.

Most women would be outraged if their surgeon unnecessarily suggested a large incision to remove their gallbladder. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of female patients are sadly uninformed of minimally invasive laparoscopic hysterectomy options.

Acquiring the skills to perform laparoscopic surgery requires an investment in time and resources. Once those skills are mastered, however, gynecologic surgeons are not always reimbursed appropriately by insurance companies for their ability to perform these less invasive surgeries.

On the contrary, surgeons who perform more invasive “open” procedures that require less skill seem to be rewarded by the insurance companies.

No wonder gynecologists are not motivated to do hysterectomies by less invasive methods.