What is hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is surgery to take out the uterus. This is the organ in the lower belly where a fetus can grow during pregnancy.

Oophorectomy is surgery to take out one or both ovaries. These are the glands that store and release eggs. They also make sex hormones.

Sometimes the uterus and ovaries are taken out at the same time. And in some cases, one or both of the fallopian tubes are removed too.

Most often, a hysterectomy is done to treat problems with the uterus. These problems include pain and heavy bleeding caused by endometriosis or uterine fibroids. The surgery may also be needed if there is cancer in the uterus, cervix, or ovaries. And it may be done as life-saving surgery if there is heavy bleeding during childbirth that can't be stopped.

In most cases, hysterectomy is an elective surgery. You can choose to have it to treat noncancerous female reproductive system conditions that haven't improved with medical treatment. If you don't plan to get pregnant and have tried other treatment options without success, it may be a reasonable treatment choice.

Other reasons for hysterectomy include:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Pelvic organ prolapse.
• Adenomyosis.
• Chronic pelvic pain. (But surgery is done only when the pain is caused by a diagnosed condition that can be corrected with a hysterectomy.)
• A severe infection of the uterus.
• Gender-affirming surgery.

There are many different ways to do hysterectomy surgery. The most common procedures are:

Abdominal hysterectomy.

In this procedure, the doctor makes a cut in your belly. The doctor takes out the uterus through this cut.

Vaginal hysterectomy.

The doctor takes out the uterus through your vagina. The doctor makes a small cut in the vagina instead of the belly.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy.

The doctor puts a lighted tube (laparoscope) through small cuts in your belly. The doctor can see your organs with the scope. The doctor can insert surgical tools to remove the uterus through the belly or the vagina.