A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes all or part of a woman's uterus.
The cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries may also be removed during the procedure.
Approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed each year in the United States.
Who Needs a Hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is performed for a variety of reasons. The most common are:
- Uterine fibroids: non-cancerous growths in the wall of the uterus
- Endometriosis: tissue lining the uterus grows outside the walls of the uterus and on the ovaries
- Adenomyosis: tissue lining the uterus grows inside the walls of the uterus
- Uterine prolapse: the uterus slips down into the vagina
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Chronic pain
Though a hysterectomy is necessary in some cases, particularly when cancer is present, in other instances it may be preventable by:
- Medication: Birth control pills can help control irregular bleeding and painful periods
- Waiting: Uterine fibroids may shrink on their own after menopause
- Vaginal pessary: This device helps hold the uterine in place in the case of uterine prolapse
- Surgical alternatives: Depending on the reason you need a hysterectomy, you may be a good candidate for a smaller, less invasive procedure
What Happens During a Hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is major surgery, and general anesthesia is usually required.
A hysterectomy may be performed via:
- A single incision in the lower abdomen
- A scope and tiny surgical instrument passed through multiple tiny incisions in the abdomen
- By passing instruments up through the vagina
There are three types of hysterectomies:
Total hysterectomy: The entire uterus and the cervix are removed.
The ovaries and fallopian tubes may or may not be removed.
Partial hysterectomy (also called subtotal or supracervical hysterectomy): The upper part of the uterus is removed but the cervix is left intact.
The ovaries may be removed in some cases.
Radical hysterectomy: A radical hysterectomy is used to treat cervical cancer.
Tissue on both sides of the cervix and the upper part of the vagina are all removed.
The fallopian tubes and the ovaries may or may not be removed.
Recovery from a Hysterectomy
Full recovery from a hysterectomy may take up to six weeks. In addition, you may experience:
Menopause: Because your uterus was removed, you will no longer have periods. If your ovaries were removed, you may experience symptoms of menopause.
Loss of sexual desire: This is more common when the ovaries are removed.
Increased risk for bone loss, heart disease, and urinary incontinence (leaking of urine) can occur, especially when both ovaries were removed.
Depression or grief over loss of fertility is common, particularly in younger women.
- Hysterectomy (Office of Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
- Radical Hysterectomy (American Cancer Society)
Last Updated: 5/21/2015