Facts to Know

Acupuncture Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Androgen Anxiety Disorders Asthma Atherosclerosis Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Bacterial Vaginosis Biofeedback Bipolar Disorder Birth Control Pills Blood Donation and Transfusion Breast Augmentation and Reduction Breast Cancer Breastfeeding Breast Reconstruction Caregiving Cervical Cancer Chiropractic Chlamydia Cholesterol Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Clinical Trials Colon Cancer Contraception Depression Diabetes Dry Eye Syndrome Eating Disorders Endometriosis Epilepsy Estrogen Fibroids Fibromyalgia Fitness Flu/Colds Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Genetic Testing Genital Herpes Glaucoma Gonorrhea Health Insurance Heart Disease Hepatitis High Blood Pressure HIV/AIDS Homeopathy Human Papillomavirus Hypnosis Hysterectomy Incontinence Infertility Irritable Bowel Syndrome Legal Health Tools Liposuction Lung Cancer Lupus Macular Degeneration Medication Safety Menopause Menstrual Disorders Metabolic Syndrome Migraine Multiple Sclerosis Naturopathy Nonsurgical Aesthetic Procedures Nutrition Obesity Ocular Allergies Oral Health Osteoarthritis Osteopathic Medicine Osteoporosis Ovarian Cancer Overactive Bladder Pain Management Pelvic Organ Prolapse Pelvic Pain Peripheral Arterial Disease Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Pregnancy Premenstrual Syndrome Preparing for Surgery Progesterone Rheumatoid Arthritis Schizophrenia Scleroderma Sexual Dysfunction Sinusitis Sjogren's Syndrome Skin Cancer Skin Health Sleep Disorders Smoking Stress Stroke Substance Abuse Tai Chi Teen Health Thyroid Disorders Trichomoniasis Urinary Tract Conditions Urinary Tract Infection Uterine Cancer Varicose Veins Violence Against Women Vulvodynia Weight Management Yeast Infections Yoga

1. More than one in four American women will have a hysterectomy by age 60. The United States has one of the highest hysterectomy rates in the world. Within the United States, hysterectomy rates vary geographically with the highest rates occurring in the South and Midwest. Hysterectomy rates are higher for African-American women.

2. A hysterectomy is often performed to stop abnormal uterine bleeding. It may also be recommended to treat fibroids that cause symptoms that aren't successfully managed by other treatment options.

3. Eighteen percent of hysterectomies are performed to correct symptoms of endometriosis. Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue, which forms the lining of the uterus, grows in other parts of the body, causing scar tissue to form and subsequent pain.

4. About five percent of hysterectomies are performed to treat abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), or menstrual bleeding excessive enough to disrupt a woman's life. Abnormal uterine bleeding may be caused by structural problems in the uterus (fibroids, for example), certain medical conditions, or by hormonal imbalances.

5. Sixteen percent of hysterectomies are performed to correct genital prolapse, which occurs when the ligaments that support a woman's pelvic organs weaken and lose their supportive ability.

6. Hysterectomies can be done several ways: A total or complete hysterectomy removes the uterus, including the cervix. A radical hysterectomy, performed for certain cancers of the reproductive organs, removes the uterus, cervix, supporting ligaments and tissues, the upper portion of the vagina and the pelvic lymph nodes. A subtotal, partial or supracervical hysterectomy removes the uterus above the cervix.

7. Recent developments in laparoscopic procedures have added two more surgical options. In laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy, a surgeon inserts a laparoscope (small telescope) through a woman's belly button to view the entire pelvis. Parts of the hysterectomy may be performed through other small incisions in the abdomen, but most will be completed through the vagina. In a laparoscopic hysterectomy, the entire procedure is performed through the laparoscopic incision in the abdomen.

8. If the ovaries and fallopian tubes are also removed, the hysterectomy includes a salpingo-oophorectomy procedure. The importance of ovarian preservation is under debate because of differences in opinion on the risk of ovarian cancer, the risk of developing ovarian cysts that could require further surgery, and the level of ovarian function as women approach menopause. About one percent of middle-aged women develop ovarian cancer. However, if the ovaries are removed at the time of surgery, most patients will experience menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats and possible mood changes, Many of these symptoms can be prevented with estrogen therapy. The discussion to use or not to use hormone therapy following surgery should begin well before the procedure.

9. Outpatient surgery and overnight observation stays are common for hysterectomies. Hospitalization, when needed, almost never exceeds 72 hours. Although normal activities may be resumed gradually, a woman may not be fully recovered until four to six weeks or longer following surgery, depending on the surgical approach used.

10. Some women's health centers and hospitals offer support groups or social workers to emotionally support hysterectomy patients. Ask your health care professional for a referral.