Hysterectomy
What is a
hysterectomy?
What are the conditions leading to hysterectomy?
Also
See:
Uterine Cancer
Uterine Fibroids
Endometriosis
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What is a hysterectomy?
Hysterectomy is the
most common nonpregnancy-related major surgery performed on women in the
United States. In 1995, approximately 590,000 women in this country will
undergo the procedure. Surgical removal of the uterus, and frequently the
ovaries, is widely accepted both by medical professionals and the public
as appropriate treatment for uterine cancer, and for various common
non-cancerous uterine conditions that can produce often disabling levels
of pain, discomfort, uterine bleeding, emotional distress, and related
symptoms. Yet, while hysterectomy can alleviate uterine problems, less
invasive treatments are available.
What are
the conditions leading to hysterectomy?
Most women who
undergo hysterectomy are between the ages of 35 and 54, with the highest
age-specific rate for women 35 to 44 years of age. Overall, uterine
fibroids account for approximately one-third of all hysterectomies
performed in the United States. Endometriosis is the second most common
condition leading to hysterectomy, accounting for 18 percent. Hysterectomy
rates also are correlated with a number of non-clinical characteristics of
patients, such as socioeconomic status, geographic diversity, and with
provider variables, such as physician training and gender of physician.
from
The Office On Women's Health - US Department of Health and Human Services
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