DECATUR - Karla Probst had her tonsils removed at age 30, and then her gall bladder was taken out when she was 35. Three months ago, she needed to have a hysterectomy at the age of 43, but this, she said, was the least painful of all surgeries she underwent.

During a traditional abdominal or "open" hysterectomy, the uterus is removed through an abdominal incision about 4 to 6 inches long. Vaginal hysterectomies also are performed, during which the uterus is removed through an incision deep in the vagina.

A laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy, however, is a newer, minimally-invasive procedure in which the uterus is surgically removed, but the cervix is left intact, which may reduce the chance of pelvic support problems or urinary incontinence in the future.

"Three small incisions are made in the abdomen, each about 1 centimeter long," said Dr. Michael Schultheis of Effingham Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates. "We use the aid of a camera and other laparoscopic tools to take the uterus out. It's really a nice option that's becoming more and more available."

Hysterectomies often are performed to relieve pain, heavy bleeding and other discomforts or conditions such as cancer. Approximately 90 percent of patients who need a hysterectomy are eligible for a laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy, Schultheis said.

"It was great; the pain and discomfort was very minimal," said Probst, a Teutopolis resident who had the surgery performed at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham. "I was in my hospital room by 5 p.m. and able to go home by 11 the next morning. I have three daughters, who were in sports at the time, and I was able to get up and go to their games that week."

Traditional hysterectomies generally have a recovery time of about six weeks, Schultheis said, but the laparoscopic procedure reduces the time usually to about two weeks. With the quicker recovery time, pain also is significantly lessened, he said.

Probst said she has had no complications from the procedure, only feeling the slight fatigue that often accompanies surgeries.

"I had never heard of this procedure before, but if anybody talked to me now, I'd tell them definitely to go through with it," she said.

Courtney Klemm can be reached at cklemm@herald-review.com or 421-6968.