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What is Pelvic Surgery?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

When a person has pelvic surgery, he or she undergoes a surgical procedure to correct problem in the organs or structures in his pelvic region. For example, an individual may have pelvic surgery for urinary incontinence or to repair damage to the pelvic organs that was caused by some type of trauma. A person may also have this kind of surgery to remove an organ, such as in a hysterectomy, or to correct a weakened pelvic floor, such as in pelvic organ prolapse. Sometimes people have surgery on the pelvic area as part of treatment for a condition or serious disease, such as cancer. Surgery may even be used to treat conditions that affect the nerves of a person's pelvis.

A person may have surgery of the pelvis to treat conditions in the reproductive organs. For example, a woman may have surgery that involves her uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, or cervix. She may even have surgery that involves the non-visible part of the vagina. For a man, the pelvic structures involved in reproducing are the penis, scrotum, testicle, epididymis, urethra, van deferens, and seminal vesicle. A doctor may perform surgery to correct a range of problems or abnormalities with any of these organs, treat infertility, or even to treat cancer.

A scalpel is a small, sharp knife that is used in surgeries to make incisions.
A scalpel is a small, sharp knife that is used in surgeries to make incisions.

Often, pelvic surgery is used to treat bladder problems. For example, doctors may use surgical techniques to treat a person who has bladder stones or is suffering from a bladder obstruction. Sometimes this type of surgery may be performed to correct problems that cause the bladder to function improperly. In the case of cancer, a doctor may even remove all or part of the bladder and then use surgical techniques to provide the body with a new way to release urine. Surgery on the pelvis may even be used to reconstruct a person's bladder.

Pelvic surgery may be helpful for a variety of conditions including bladder problems and reproductive problems.
Pelvic surgery may be helpful for a variety of conditions including bladder problems and reproductive problems.

Sometimes surgeons perform this type of surgery to treat problems with incontinence. Surgeons may use a range of surgical techniques to treat urinary incontinence. An individual may also suffer from incontinence that is related to his rectum and anus. This type of surgery may be used to correct bowel incontinence as well.

Another common type of pelvic surgery is pelvic prolapse surgery. Pelvic prolapse is a condition that is marked by a weakened pelvic floor that allows the pelvic organs to drop out of their normal position. For example, the bladder may start to descend and actually protrude into the vagina. Fortunately, there are effective surgical techniques that may be used to correct pelvic prolapse as well.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon277984

Can a male pelvis skeleton be transformed into the shape of a female's pelvis skeleton as in the case of transgender patients who have gender reassignment surgery?

It would help the shape of the hips and butt without the need for dangerous silicon injections I keep reading about.

Would it be possible and if not, why not?

anon227429

I don't know if your above post is old, but no, your loop procedures are not considered pelvic surgery, and of course neither are the pap smears. Since the loop procedure only involves analyzing your cervix, the doctors or nurses or equipment would not be any more superior into your pelvis, for example near your uterine (fallopian) tubes.

So, the possibility that examining your cervix would ever lead to your uterine (fallopian) tubes being damaged, scarred, or even touched is the same likelihood that brushing your teeth could scar your esophagus. They are just not close enough for anything to happen. I am not confident about a CIN three grade affecting or not affecting uterine tubes, so this is something you should inquire about further.

I am so sorry to hear about your situation. My advice first is to always seek a second opinion. There are always other options for the both of you if you're fertile, and besides that, there are always other options in life, period. Best of luck to the both of you.

Sincerely, A 4th year medical student.

anon168527

I had abnormal cells found in a smear test. this was left for six months, then i had another smear to see if it had corrected itself. It hadn't, which resulted in a hot loop treatment. I then had another smear which showed that i had CIN 3 -- a thin, hairline of cancer on the cervix. i then had another hot loop treatment. is this procedure classed as Pelvic Surgery?

I am asking as i have a child at the time of all this and he was only three years old. I had also suffered with a big cyst on the ovaries once i had all this treatment.

my partner and i were trying for a baby for three years and after nothing happened we had it looked into. Both my tubes are blocked and scarred. i have read that having this treatment can cause this to happen. No one will tell me why this has happened.

I know that it wasn't a std as i was having regular smears and at the same time being tested for std and they were always negative. could this have caused my problems?

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    • A scalpel is a small, sharp knife that is used in surgeries to make incisions.
      By: iofoto
      A scalpel is a small, sharp knife that is used in surgeries to make incisions.
    • Pelvic surgery may be helpful for a variety of conditions including bladder problems and reproductive problems.
      By: Gennadiy Poznyakov
      Pelvic surgery may be helpful for a variety of conditions including bladder problems and reproductive problems.
    • A female patient may have pelvic surgery to alleviate persistent ovarian pain or internal bleeding.
      By: Alliance
      A female patient may have pelvic surgery to alleviate persistent ovarian pain or internal bleeding.
    • Damaged to the pelvic area caused by serious trauma may require surgery.
      By: jamstockfoto
      Damaged to the pelvic area caused by serious trauma may require surgery.
    • Performing kegel exercises in addition to gentle stretches may help strengthen a woman's vaginal walls and pelvic floor muscles prior to giving birth.
      By: evgenyatamanenko
      Performing kegel exercises in addition to gentle stretches may help strengthen a woman's vaginal walls and pelvic floor muscles prior to giving birth.
    • Laparoscopic surgery is often used for major procedures on the pelvis and abdomen.
      By: Cosmic
      Laparoscopic surgery is often used for major procedures on the pelvis and abdomen.
    • Pelvic surgery may be necessary to treat instances of infertility.
      By: Igor Mojzes
      Pelvic surgery may be necessary to treat instances of infertility.
    • Pelvic surgery may be utilized for someone with bladder stones or other bladder conditions.
      By: ivan kmit
      Pelvic surgery may be utilized for someone with bladder stones or other bladder conditions.
    • Pelvic surgery may require general anesthesia.
      By: reflektastudios
      Pelvic surgery may require general anesthesia.