Is there a difference between a partial and total hysterectomy?

Is there even such a thing as a partial hysterectomy? If one keeps both ovaries and tubes but lost the cervix did she have a total hysterectomy? Can anyone have a hysterectomy or does there have to be something wrong?

A lot of people get confused and think that if everything is taken out then it's a total hysterectomy but a lot are mistaken.
Total means that both the uterus and cervix are removed. The term hysterectomy refers to the removal of the uterus and may or may not include taking the cervix.It's possible for one to have a total hysterectomy and keep both ovaries and tubes.

The cervix is the neck of the uterus and is about the size of a coat button. Sometimes women do keep the cervix if it's o.k.

Some ways to have a total hysterectomy are as follows...
TVH= total vaginal hysterectomy
TAH= total abdominal hysterectomy
LAVH= laproscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy

If the cervix is kept then it is called a subtotal or supracervical hysterectomy not a partial hysterectomy even if she keeps both ovaries and tubes or not.
SAH- Supracervical or Subtotal hysterectomy
LSH- Laproscopic supracervical or subtotal hysterctomy or to break down the abbreviations...
For SAH
S=supracervical or subtotal
A=abdominal
H=hysterectomy

For LSH
L=laproscopic
S=supracervical or subtotal
H=hysterectomy

The thing that people get confused about is the following.
If ovaries and tubes are taken it's called a BSO.
B= Bilateral-"both"
S=Salpingo-"tubes"
O=Oopherectomy-"ovaries".

In a few one may have one ovary and tube removed then it would be called LSO for left ovary and tube or RSO for right ovary and tube.

In conclusion if one has a vaginal hysterectomy and keeps both ovaries and tubes then it's a TVH=total vaginal hysterectomy

If the ovaries and tubes are not kept then it's a TVH/BSO.

Usually there has to be a problem in order for one to have a hysterectomy. It can be cancer, endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, heavy and long or non-stop bleeding, other problems not listed.

A full hysterectomy is the removal of all the female reproductive organs, a partial is the removal of some but not all. If a woman had her cervix removed (I'll assume you mean uterus as well) but her ovaries and fallopian tubes are left intact that is a partial.

Typically there needs to be a medical reason for a hysterectomy to be performed.