Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy
Diagram showing what is removed with a radical hysterectomy
Specialty	gynaecology
ICD-9-CM	68.9
MeSH	D007044
MedlinePlus	002915
[edit on Wikidata]

Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and cervix. Supracervical hysterectomy refers to removal of the uterus while the cervix is spared. These procedures may also involve removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy), fallopian tubes (salpingectomy), and other surrounding structures. The term “partial” or “total” hysterectomy are lay-terms that incorrectly describe the addition or omission of oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy. These procedures are usually performed by a gynecologist. Removal of the uterus renders the patient unable to bear children (as does removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes) and has surgical risks as well as long-term effects, so the surgery is normally recommended only when other treatment options are not available or have failed. It is the second most commonly performed gynecological surgical procedure, after cesarean section, in the United States.^[1] Nearly 68 percent were performed for conditions such as endometriosis, irregular bleeding, and uterine fibroids.^[1] It is expected that the frequency of hysterectomies for non-malignant indications will continue to fall given the development of alternative treatment options.^[2]