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Hysterectomy

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Definition:

A hysterectomy is a surgical removal of the uterus, resulting in the inability to become pregnant (sterility). It may be done through the abdomen or the vagina .

Alternative Names:

Vaginal hysterectomy; Abdominal hysterectomy; Supracervical hysterectomy; Radical hysterectomy; Removal of the uterus

Description:

Hysterectomy is an operation that is commonly performed. There are many reasons a woman may need a hysterectomy. However, there are non-surgical approaches to treat many of these conditions. Talk to your doctor about non-surgical treatments to try first, especially if the recommendation for a hysterectomy is for a cause other than cancer.

During a hysterectomy, the uterus may be completely or partially removed. The fallopian tubes and ovaries may also be removed. A partial (or supracervical) hysterectomy is removal of just the upper portion of the uterus, leaving the cervix intact.

A total hysterectomy is removal of the entire uterus and the cervix. A radical hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus, the tissue on both sides of the cervix (parametrium), and the upper part of the vagina.

A hysterectomy may be done through an abdominal incision (abdominal hysterectomy), a vaginal incision (vaginal hysterectomy), or through laparoscopic incisions (small incisions on the abdomen -- laparoscopic hysterectomy).

Your physician will help you decide which type of hysterectomy is most appropriate for you, depending on your medical history and the reason for your surgery.

Indications:

Hysterectomy may be recommended for:

• Tumors in the uterus like uterine fibroids or endometrial cancer
• Cancer of the cervix or severe cervical dysplasia (a precancerous condition of the cervix)
• Cancer of the ovary
• Endometriosis , in those cases in which the pain is severe and not responsive to non-surgical treatments
• Severe, long-term (chronic) vaginal bleeding that cannot be controlled by medications
• Prolapse of the uterus
• Complications during childbirth (like uncontrollable bleeding)

• Review Date: 12/1/2005
• Reviewed By: Sharon Roseanne Thompson, M.D., M.P.H., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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