Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. Different portions of the uterus, as well as other organs, may be removed at the same time.

Reasons for performing a hysterectomy include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Abnormal uterine bleeding: This may be due to endometrial hyperplasia, an over-thickening of the uterine lining that can develop into cancer over time.
• Adenomyosis: This is the condition in which endometrial cells grow into the muscle of the uterus, most commonly causing painful menstruation and heavy bleeding.
• Blockage: A blockage of the bladder, ureters or intestines by the uterus or a growth.
• Cancer: Cervical, ovarian or endometrial cancer is the diagnosis for approximately ten percent of hysterectomies.
• Chronic pelvic conditions: Pelvic pain or pelvic inflammatory disease that does not respond to other treatments.
• Endometriosis: This is a condition in which endometrial cells grow outside the uterus, causing scar tissue of the pelvic lining and between other organs in the pelvic cavity. It leads to chronic pelvic pain, painful intercourse during sex or bowel movements, and prolonged or heavy bleeding.
• Symptomatic uterine fibroids: They often cause bleeding, pressure and pain.
• Uterine prolapse: When the uterus drops down into the vagina.