After you have anesthesia, your feet will be put into stirrups. This is like when you have your annual pelvic exam. To make the area as clean as possible, your vagina, pelvic area, and lower abdomen will be washed with a special disinfectant solution. You will then be covered with sterile sheets.

A catheter, which is a flexible, plastic tube, will be placed into your bladder. This drains and measures your urine during the surgery.

Your doctor will then put a speculum into your vagina. The speculum helps to keep your vagina open so the doctor can see your cervix. An incision is made through the cervix. Through this incision, all the organs, ligaments, and blood vessels attached to the uterus are separated from it. After this is done, the uterus is carefully pulled out through the vagina. If necessary, your fallopian tubes and ovaries may also be taken out, after the uterus is removed. Then, the top part of the vagina is stitched closed.

Gauze may be put into the vagina after the surgery to help prevent bleeding from your incision. It will be taken out shortly after the surgery.

The entire surgery usually takes one to two hours.