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A woman's reproductive organs include the uterus (womb), vagina, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Surgery to remove the uterus is called hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is a common operation for women in the United States, second only to cesarean section (abdominal delivery of a pregnancy). Because hysterectomy is major surgery with risks, alternatives to this treatment may need to be considered along with the benefits of having a hysterectomy. Women who have a hysterectomy stop having menstrual periods and cannot become pregnant or give birth. If the tubes and ovaries are removed along with the uterus (called a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) menopause will occur, regardless of the patient's age, because of the absence of estrogen produced by the ovaries. Removing the uterus may speed the onset of menopause by several years. The March 24/31, 2004, issue of JAMA includes an article about hysterectomy for abnormal uterine bleeding.

REASONS FOR HAVING A HYSTERECTOMY

Reasons for having . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Janet M. Torpy, MD, Writer; Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator; Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor

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