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Hysterectomy

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A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman's uterus. The uterus is the place where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant. Sometimes, the ovaries and fallopian tubes also are taken out. Hysterectomies are very common - one in three women in the United States has had one by age 60.

Your health care provider might recommend a hysterectomy if you have Fibroids Endometriosis not cured by medicine or surgery Uterine prolapse - when the uterus drops into the vagina Cancer of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries Vaginal bleeding that persists despite treatment Chronic pelvic pain; surgery can be a last resort

Before having a hysterectomy, it is important to discuss other possible treatments with your health care provider. A hysterectomy will stop your periods, and you will no longer be able to get pregnant. If the surgery removes both ovaries, you will enter menopause.

What is a hysterectomy recommended for?

Hysterectomy may be needed if you have one of the following conditions:

Gynecologic cancer. If you have a gynecologic cancer — such as cancer of the uterus or cervix — a hysterectomy may be your best treatment option. Depending on the specific cancer you have and how advanced it is, your other options might include radiation or chemotherapy.
Fibroids. Hysterectomy is the only certain, permanent solution for fibroids — benign uterine tumors that cause persistent bleeding, anemia, pelvic pain or bladder pressure. Nonsurgical treatments of fibroids are a possibility, depending on your discomfort level and tumor size. Many women with fibroids have minimal symptoms and require no treatment.
Endometriosis. In endometriosis, the tissue lining the inside of your uterus (endometrium) grows outside the uterus on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other pelvic or abdominal organs. When medication or conservative surgery doesn't improve endometriosis, you might need a hysterectomy.
Uterine prolapse. Descent of the uterus into your vagina can happen when the supporting ligaments and tissues weaken. Uterine prolapse can lead to urinary incontinence, pelvic pressure or difficulty with bowel movements. Hysterectomy may be necessary to achieve satisfactory repair of these conditions.
Persistent vaginal bleeding. If your periods are heavy and irregular or last many days each cycle, a hysterectomy may bring relief when the bleeding can't be controlled by nonsurgical methods.
Chronic pelvic pain. Occasionally, surgery is a necessary last resort for women who experience chronic pelvic pain that clearly arises in the uterus. However, many forms of pelvic pain aren't cured by hysterectomy, and this operative approach can be a tragic mistake. Seek careful evaluation before proceeding with such a radical strategy.

Hysterectomy ends your ability to become pregnant. If you think you might want to become pregnant, ask your doctor about alternatives to this surgery. In the case of cancer, hysterectomy might be the only option. But other conditions — including fibroids, endometriosis and uterine prolapse — have alternative treatments that you can try first.

How do you prepare for a hysterectomy?

Hysterectomy is an inpatient procedure — meaning you're admitted to the hospital to have it done. How long you'll be in the hospital depends on what type of hysterectomy you have and what your doctor recommends.

Plan for an extended recovery time once you get home. Full recovery could take several weeks. Before your surgery, arrange for time off work. Look into getting help at home if you think you'll need it.

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EditText of this page (last edited January 30, 2008)