| Hysterectomy | |||||
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A hysterectomy is a medical procedure in which the uterus (womb) is removed, but the rest of the reproductive organs are usually left intact. Sometimes the cervix is also removed, but that is dependent on why the hysterectomy was performed in the first place.
A hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure and is permanent - you cannot get your uterus back once you remove it. But it is sometimes a necessary and only option.
While hysterectomy may be necessary for women with uterine, cervical or ovarian cancer, there are other alternative medical procedures that can be perfomed instead of hysterectomy, especially in younger women of child-bearing years.
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- Hysterectomy is the most common type of elective surgery for Australian women
- Hysterectomy is a major procedure which requires full sedation and time to recover from it
- Hysterectomy procedures are slowly decreasing, as other options are taken up instead
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Why a hysterectomy is important
A hysterectomy procedure is normally recommended for the following health conditions:
- Cancer - hysterectomy is probably the best treatment option for gynaecological cancers of the uterus, cervix or ovaries. Other treatment options may also be available, but these depend on the stage of the cancer and need to be further discussed
- Fibroids - hysterectomy has traditionally been recommeneded for women with uterine fibroids, especially ones which are large and especially if the women has completed bearing all the children she intends to bear (other procedues are now recommended for women of child-bearing age)
- Prolapse - when the muscles supporting the vagina and uterus/cervix start to descend into the vagina a lot of health problems can happen (incontinence, pelvic pressure, bowel movement difficulty), then hysterectomy is offered as the last resort to alleviate these conditions
- Endometriosis - hysterectomy may be a last resort if the symptoms of endometriosis do not improve with medication or conservative surgery
- Heavy bleeding - hysterectomy is also offered to women who experience heavy bleeding every month and suffer from anaemia, lethargy and other symptoms as a last resort if other non-surgical methods do not improve their bleeding
Today there are other procedures that can also help with most of the conditions above, but must be performed with consultion of a medical specialist to determine if they are right for the individual.
references
- Marieb EM, Hoehn K. Human Anatomy & Physiology. 7th edition, 2006. Benjamin Cummings Publishing
- Tortora GJ, Derrickson BH. Principles of Anatomy & Physiology. 11th edition, 2005. Wiley Publishing
To learn more, go to the following web sites:
- Women's Health Queensland Wide (Australia)
- Women's Health Victoria (Australia)
