What is a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman’s uterus (womb). The uterus is where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant. In some cases, the ovaries and fallopian tubes also are removed. These organs are located in a woman’s lower abdomen (see image below). The cervix is the lower end of the uterus. The ovaries are organs that produce eggs and hormones. The fallopian tubes carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Image Source: National Cancer Institute There are several types of hysterectomies: • Complete or total. Removes the cervix as well as the uterus. (This is the most common type of hysterectomy.) • Partial or subtotal. Removes the upper part of the uterus and leaves the cervix in place. • Radical. Removes the uterus, the cervix, the upper part of the vagina, and supporting tissues. (This is done in some cases of cancer.) Often one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed at the same time a hysterectomy is done. If you haven’t reached menopause (when you haven’t had a
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure whereby the uterus (womb) is removed. Hysterectomy is the most common non-obstetrical surgical procedure of women in the United States. How common is hysterectomy? Approximately 300 out of every 100,000 women will undergo a hysterectomy. Why is a hysterectomy performed? The most common reason hysterectomy is performed is for uterine fibroids The next most common reasons are: • abnormal uterine bleeding (vaginal bleeding), • cervical dysplasia (pre-cancerous conditions of the cervix), • endometriosis, and uterine prolapse (including pelvic relaxation). Only 10% of hysterectomy is performed for cancer. This article will primarily focus on the use of hysterectomy for non-cancerous, non-emergency reasons, which can involve even more challenging decisions for women and their doctors. Uterine fibroids (also known as uterine leiomyomata) are by far the most common reason a hysterectomy is performed. Uterine fibroids are benign growths of the uterus, the
