Health Information
Hysterectomy
Why It Is Done
In most cases,
hysterectomy is an elective surgery used to treat
noncancerous
Reference female reproductive system Opens New Window Reference 
Opens New Window (gynecologic) conditions that haven't improved with
medical treatment. For women who have no plans for pregnancy and have
considered and tried other treatment options without success, a hysterectomy
may be a reasonable treatment choice.
Hysterectomy is also a potentially lifesaving measure when used to stop severe bleeding after childbirth or to remove Reference cervical cancer Opens New Window or Reference endometrial (uterine) cancer Opens New Window.
Reasons for hysterectomy include:
- Severe bleeding after childbirth.
- Heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Reference Uterine fibroids Opens New Window.
- Uterine prolapse.
- Reference Endometriosis Opens New Window and Reference adenomyosis Opens New Window.
- Chronic pelvic pain (only when caused by a diagnosed condition that can be corrected with hysterectomy).
- Cancer of the Reference cervix Opens New Window, Reference uterus Opens New Window, or Reference ovaries.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference January 9, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
|
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