Hysterectomy briefly explained
Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus; sometimes the cervix and/or ovaries and fallopian tubes are also removed. After cesarean section, hysterectomy is the second most frequently performed major surgical procedure for women of reproductive age in the United States. Approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the United States and an estimated 20 million U.S. women have had a hysterectomy. From 1994–1999 the overall hysterectomy rate for United States female civilian residents was 5.5. per 1,000 women. During this time period, the overall rate of hysterectomy remained fairly stable. While rates of vaginal hysterectomy remained stable, laparoscopy assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) more than doubled. Hysterectomy rates were highest in women aged 40–44 years. The three conditions most often associated with hysterectomy were uterine leiomyoma ("fibroid tumors"), endometriosis, and uterine prolapse.
