Hysterectomy: Facts About Removal of the Uterus, Including Risks, Benefits, Minimally Invasive Versions, and Alternatives

A hysterectomy is a surgical operation to remove the uterus — the hollow, pear-shaped muscular organ located in the lower abdomen and pelvis. This organ, essential to reproduction, sits behind the bladder and in front of the rectum. (1)

On each side of the uterus is a fallopian tube and ovary.

During pregnancy, a fertilized egg implants itself in the lining of the uterus, where the developing fetus is nourished prior to birth. (2)

After undergoing hysterectomy, a person no longer has menstrual periods and cannot become pregnant.

How Common Is Hysterectomy, or Surgical Removal of the Uterus?

Hysterectomy is a common type of surgery, with about 600,000 performed each year in the United States. After cesarean section, it is the second most frequently performed surgical procedure. (3)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one-third of women ages 50 and older in the United States have had a hysterectomy. Black women in this age group are more likely than white women to have had a hysterectomy, while Hispanic women are less likely.

Most of the time, a hysterectomy is performed to treat a health condition when alternative therapies, such as medication, hormone treatments, or less-invasive surgical procedures have been unsuccessful in completely alleviating symptoms such as bleeding and pain.

In some cases, a hysterectomy may be necessary to save a person’s life (for example, to stop life-threatening bleeding after the birth of a baby) or to help prevent the spread of certain gynecological cancers.

Hysterectomy Surgery: What Is Removed or Taken Out?

There are essentially three types of hysterectomy, depending on which structures are removed:

  • Total hysterectomy This is the removal of the entire uterus, including the cervix (the lower narrower portion of the uterus).
  • Supracervical (also known as a subtotal or partial) hysterectomy This is the removal of the upper part of the uterus. The cervix is left in place.
  • Radical hysterectomy This is a total hysterectomy that also involves removing surrounding tissues around the uterus, called the parametrium. This procedure is usually reserved for cases where cancer is present. (6)

Besides the Uterus and the Cervix, What Other Organs or Structures Are Removed as Part of a Hysterectomy?

Sometimes a surgeon will perform additional surgeries at the time of hysterectomy.

One or both of your ovaries may also be removed. This is called a salpingo-oophorectomy. An oophorectomy is the surgical removal of the ovaries.

A salpingectomy is the removal of the fallopian tubes. The ovaries and tubes may be removed in certain situations — for example, when they are affected by endometriosis. (7)

Common Questions & Answers

What organ is removed during a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is a surgical operation to remove the uterus — the hollow, pear-shaped muscular organ located in the lower abdomen and pelvis. The uterus is also known as the womb.
How common are hysterectomy procedures?
Hysterectomy is a common type of surgery. After cesarean section, it is the second most frequently performed surgical procedure in the United States. Each year, approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed in the United States.
Why would I need a hysterectomy?

Hysterectomy can be used to treat several different conditions in women, including uterine fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic support problems such as pelvic organ prolapse, abnormal uterine bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, and adenomyosis.

Are there different types of hysterectomies?
A total hysterectomy is the removal of the entire uterus and the cervix. A supracervical (or partial) hysterectomy removes the upper part of the uterus, while the cervix is left in place. A radical hysterectomy removes the entire uterus and the surrounding tissues, called the parametrium. It is usually reserved for cases where cancer is present.
Are hysterectomies considered safe?
Yes. With a less than 1 percent mortality rate, the procedure is considered to be a safe, low-risk surgery. But as with any surgery, problems can occur. Risks associated with hysterectomy include blood clots, infection, excessive bleeding, an adverse reaction to anesthesia, and damage to the urinary tract, rectum, or other pelvic structures.

How Is Hysterectomy Surgery Performed?

There are several approaches to hysterectomy, as noted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The uterus can be removed through an open incision in the lower abdomen, through the vagina, or using a laparoscopic technique in which the uterus is removed through a few small incisions made in the abdomen.

Each option involves unique risks and benefits, and recovery time can vary depending on the method used. In some instances a person's choice of procedure is limited — for example, if they have a large uterus, a vaginal or laparoscopic procedure may not be an option.

An abdominal hysterectomy typically involves a hospital stay of at most two to three nights, according to Stanford Medicine. It may be recommended over less-invasive options if you have an enlarged uterus, large fibroids, endometriosis, or cancer, or if you need your ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.

What Less- or Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy Options Are Available?

Both vaginal and laparoscopic techniques are considered minimally invasive because surgeons make smaller incisions and use smaller surgical instruments. (9)

In a vaginal hysterectomy, the uterus is removed through the vagina and no abdominal incision is made, Stanford Medicine notes. Vaginal hysterectomy generally involves the least postsurgery pain and leaves no visible scarring, and is typically the preferred method for treating uterine prolapse (when the uterus falls down into the vagina due to weakened muscles and other pelvic tissues). But due to the size and location of the vagina, vaginal hysterectomy may not be an option for your procedure.

Learn More About Types and Methods of Hysterectomy

How Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Is Performed

During the procedure, your surgeon makes a few small incisions in your lower abdomen. Then a laparoscope — a thin, tube that contains a video camera — is inserted in one of these incisions. The laparoscope allows the surgeon to see your pelvic organs, and surgical tools are inserted through the other incisions. The uterus can be removed in small pieces through the incisions, through a larger incision made in the abdomen, or through the vagina, Stanford Medicine notes.

Treatment Options That Aren’t Hysterectomy

Most hysterectomies are elective, which means you should have some time to explore and discuss other options to manage your pain or other symptoms.

With the exception of certain gynecological cancers or a rare emergency, such as uncontrollable bleeding after childbirth, there are alternatives to hysterectomy that can treat nearly every condition or symptom where surgical removal of the uterus may be considered. Treatment options may include medication, hormone treatments, or minimally invasive procedures.

Learn More About Alternatives to Hysterectomy

The Root Problem Determines Medical Treatment Options

Ultimately, the root cause or origin of your symptoms will determine the solutions your doctor offers or recommends. For example, the growth of uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous tumors, may be slowed with medication. Pain from endometriosis may respond to the medications such as elagolix (Orilissa) or other therapies.

Learn More About Symptoms and Conditions That May Be Treated With Hysterectomy

Conditions and Symptoms That May Warrant Hysterectomy

Uterine Fibroids: Noncancerous Tumors That Can Cause Pain and Other Symptoms

Fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus. They can be as small as an apple seed or as large as a grapefruit, according to the Office on Women’s Health. Because they often cause no symptoms, doctors sometimes detect fibroids incidentally during a pelvic exam or a prenatal ultrasound.

Signs and Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids

Fibroids don’t always cause symptoms. When they do, symptoms can include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual periods (lasting more than a week), pelvic pain, frequent urination, low back pain, or painful intercourse.

While symptoms often respond to medication or nonsurgical treatment, sometimes the symptoms are severe enough to warrant hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is the only permanent solution for uterine fibroids. (11)

Endometriosis: A Disease in Which Uterine Lining Grows Outside the Uterus, Causing Symptoms Such as Pain and Infertility

In endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other places in the body. Most often, endometriosis is found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the peritoneum (pelvic sidewall). It can also appear in the bowel and bladder. Rarely, it appears in other parts of the body.

Symptoms of endometriosis can include painful menstrual cramps, chronic pain in the lower back and pelvis, intestinal pain, bleeding or spotting between periods, and digestive problems, including diarrhea, constipation, or nausea, especially when you are having your period. (13)

Hormone therapy and pain medication may help alleviate pain from endometriosis. Minimally invasive procedures may be performed to remove diseased tissue, but lesions and pain often return within a year or two. (14) Sometimes after repeated surgical treatments to remove the disease, or instances where hormone therapy has failed to keep the disease at bay, women opt for a hysterectomy, though it's generally considered a last resort.

Other Conditions That May Warrant Surgical Removal of Uterus or Hysterectomy

Pelvic Support Problems, Such as Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pregnancy, childbirth, and aging can weaken or stretch a person’s pelvic supporting tissues and ligaments. In some cases, the uterus can lower or sag into the vagina. Women with this condition may experience pelvic pressure, urinary incontinence, or difficulty making a bowel movement. Hysterectomy may be recommended for this condition. (15)

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Heavy bleeding during your period is one example of abnormal uterine bleeding. Other instances include bleeding and spotting between periods, bleeding or spotting after sex, menstrual cycles that last longer than 38 days or shorter than 24 days, and bleeding after menopause. Benign growths in the uterus, either polyps or fibroids, are common causes. Medication is often the first line of treatment. If medication fails to reduce the bleeding, surgical procedures, like endometrial ablation or uterine artery embolization, are further options.

Sometimes when all other treatments have failed, a person may opt for a hysterectomy. (16)

Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the pelvic area that lasts six months or longer. Most chronic pelvic pain can be attributed to endometriosis. Other conditions that can lead to chronic pelvic pain include fibroids, ovarian cysts, irritable bowel syndrome, and interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome).

Depending on the condition, treatment for pelvic pain can include medication, physical therapy, biofeedback, or minimally invasive procedures, such as trigger point injections or peripheral nerve blocks. As a last resort, hysterectomy may be suggested for chronic pelvic pain that hasn’t responded to any other treatment. (17)

Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is a condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus grows inside the walls of the uterus, where it doesn’t belong. The displaced tissue continues to act normally — thickening, breaking down, and bleeding — during each menstrual cycle. The condition sometimes results in an enlarged uterus and painful, heavy periods. This usually resolves after menopause. Doctors treat it the same way they treat endometriosis. Sometimes hormonal treatments help.

Hysterectomy may be recommended for adenomyosis when other treatments have failed to control the condition, the Mayo Clinic notes.

Is Hysterectomy a Treatment for Cancer?

Hysterectomies are routinely performed to treat cancer. Hysterectomy is the main treatment for endometrial cancer, which is the most common gynecologic cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Physicians consider the surgery the best option in many cases.

Endometrial cancer is often detected at an early stage due to symptoms like abnormal vaginal bleeding, which might prompt a doctor visit. Hysterectomy can often eliminate the cancer. (20)

Unlike endometrial cancer, which is often caught in earlier stages, ovarian cancer, which begins in the ovaries, often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. The surgery may involve hysterectomy, especially if the cancer is advanced. (21)

Hysterectomy is also a common treatment for early-stage cervical cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. This type of cancer begins in the cells lining the cervix, the lower part of the uterus.

Is Hysterectomy Medically Necessary and Appropriate?

Only a fraction of the approximately 600,000 hysterectomies performed in the United States each year are for cancer treatment and considered potentially lifesaving. The rest of the hysterectomies performed are essentially elective procedures, and some experts believe that many of them are unnecessary.

For example, problematic uterine fibroids may be addressed by alternative treatments, such as hormone medication, uterine artery embolization, or myomectomy.

Learn More About Hysterectomy: Do You Really Need It?

Is Hysterectomy, or Surgical Removal of the Uterus, Considered Safe?

Yes. With a less than 1 percent mortality rate, the procedure is considered to be a safe, low-risk surgery. (3)

The Health Risks of Hysterectomy Surgery

While hysterectomy is one of the safest surgical procedures, it is still surgery, so problems can occur.

Risks associated with hysterectomy include: (22)

  • Blood clots
  • Infection
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Adverse reaction to anesthesia
  • Damage to the urinary tract, rectum, or other pelvic structures

RELATED: Hysterectomy Linked to Increased Risk of Depression, Other Mood Disorders, Says Study

How Long Do Women Who Undergo Hysterectomy Have to Stay in the Hospital?

You may need to stay in the hospital for a day or two, sometimes a bit longer, following abdominal hysterectomy. If a woman has a laparoscopic hysterectomy, she can often go home the same day.

Recovery From Hysterectomy and What Post-Op Healing Involves

You can expect some pain for the first few days, but medication should help.

You should avoid any heavy (over 20 pounds) lifting for six weeks after surgery. Generally, you should avoid vaginal intercourse, or putting anything in your vagina, for eight weeks after a hysterectomy. (23)

Learn More About Recovery After Hysterectomy

What to Discuss With Your Doctor Before a Hysterectomy

Despite the fact that hysterectomy is one of the most common surgeries in the United States, many myths and misunderstandings about the surgical removal of the uterus exist.

The procedure has been performed for thousands of years, and was used to treat women diagnosed with "hysteria" or problems similar to anxiety and depression. Today, hysterectomy is one of many options if you have fibroids (noncancerous tumors) or excessively heavy periods. If you are considering undergoing the surgery, be sure to have a comprehensive and frank discussion with your doctor before making any decisions.

Learn More About What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You About Hysterectomy

Get All the Facts About Hysterectomy

Consider getting a second opinion if your doctor recommends hysterectomy. It is a permanent, irreversible procedure, and in most cases, surgical removal of the uterus is elective rather than medically necessary.

Resources We Love

If you’re considering having a hysterectomy or are looking for alternative or less-invasive treatment options, these websites, organizations, support groups, and articles can help you better understand your medical choices. By weighing the risks and benefits of hysterectomy alongside various procedures and treatments, you can make a more informed decision regarding your own healthcare.

Essential Hysterectomy Info: Methods, Conditions, and Alternative Treatments

American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)

Founded in 1944 by a small group of fertility experts, the ASRM is a great source for information on any number of topics related to reproductive medicine. Two particular educational videos worth taking a look at on the ASRM patient site deal with endometriosis and fibroid tumors.

Cleveland Clinic

The site’s easy to follow hysterectomy section covers topics from procedure details to recovery.

Johns Hopkins Medicine

If you’re looking for a quick overview of the different types of hysterectomy, you can find one on this famed medical institution’s site.

Mayo Clinic

The site offers insightful info on any given medical topic. In addition to several useful articles on all aspects of hysterectomy and its related conditions, you can view a helpful Q&A with a Mayo Clinic gynecologic surgeon where she discusses, among other topics, the advantages and disadvantages of different hysterectomy approaches and provides advice on how to choose the right hysterectomy.

Office on Women’s Health (OWH)

If you’re looking to better understand all matters hysterectomy-related, the Office on Women’s Health is a great resource. A division within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), OWH addresses critical women’s health issues, in part through educating consumers. Here you can find fact sheets full of accessible info on hysterectomy and read blog posts by women who have had the surgery already. You can also get information about hysterectomy by calling the OWH Helpline at 800-994-9662.

MedlinePlus

A resource of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, this online medical encyclopedia contains authoritative and up-to-date info on over 1,000 medical issues and topics, including hysterectomy. It's an essential go-to.

American Cancer Society

Just thinking about cancer can be overwhelming — and it can be hard to navigate through all the online content that’s out there. If you’ve been diagnosed or are facing the prospect of cancer treatment, or even just want to learn more about it, the American Cancer Society is a great resource. Here you’ll find info on uterine, cervical, and endometrial cancers. You can also call their Cancer Helpline at 800-227-2345 or live chat through the website.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

ACOG is the premier organization for obstetricians and gynecologists and providers of women’s healthcare, and its Patient Pages contain fact-filled FAQs on a number of gynecologic problems and procedures, including endometriosis, uterine fibroids, laparoscopy, and hysterectomy.

Essential Information on Treating Conditions Related to Hysterectomy

Fibroids

Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR)

Perhaps your medical team has suggested uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) — a minimally invasive treatment for fibroids — as an alternative to traditional surgery, but your understanding of this treatment is limited.

SIR represents more than 800 physicians, scientists, physicians assistants, nurse practitioners, and others practicing interventional radiology, and it offers a doctor finder database to help you find SIR-member interventional radiologists in your area.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis Association

Founded in Milwaukee in 1980, this organization was the first in the world created for those with endometriosis. This site dispels some of the common myths about this often painful and challenging-to-treat disease and provides lots of useful info on diagnosis and treatments. You can also find information on coping techniques and nutrition tips.

Endometriosis Foundation of America

This nonprofit, cofounded by Padma Lakshmi and Tamer Seckin, MD, funds endometriosis research and informs the medical community and the public about the disease, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and effective treatments. Lena Dunham is on the executive board of directors.

Through the foundation’s website, you can access The Blossom, the organization’s newsletter, which is rich with endo-related articles, such as a Q&A with a researcher who is studying links between the disease and environmental toxins. You can also find helpful information about exercise and alternative pain therapies, like reiki.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

American Urogynecologic Society Voices for PFD

This is a great site for those seeking to better understand pelvic floor disorders and understand pelvic organ prolapse. Childbirth and aging are factors that increase your risk, and here you can learn more about both prevention (check out their Fact Sheet on Pelvic Floor Exercises) and treatment.

Chronic Pelvic Pain

American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)

Since 1980, the ACPA has offered peer support and education in pain management skills to people with pain and their care providers. This organization’s 152-page “Resource Guide to Chronic Pain Management” provides in-depth info on all manner of pain treatment from medication to Pilates, yoga, and therapeutic massage.

How to Find a Doctor Who Specializes in Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy and Surgery: Tips From Experts

  • “When looking at doctors’ profiles on hospital web pages, you can often find their areas of expertise and interest. The phrases 'minimally invasive surgery,' 'vaginal surgery,' or 'robotic-assisted laparoscopy' are a good sign,” says Kate White, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University in Massachusetts.
  • HERS (Hysterectomy Educational Resources and Services) maintains a list of doctors who at least 25 women have reported having had good surgical outcomes with. If you don’t find one in your area, I suggest you google your nearest medical school. Then find the obstetrics and gynecology department and search for faculty members. Bios can tell you the member’s specialty, and they may also include statements about the doctor’s philosophy, along with the location of their clinical practice and phone number,” says Nora W. Coffey, a coauthor of The H Word: The Diagnostic Studies to Evaluate Symptoms, Alternatives in Treatment, and Coping With the Aftereffects of Hysterectomy.

Health Websites With Physician Search Tools and Doctor Finder Help

AAGL

The search for the right medical specialist can be daunting, but there are resources to guide you. Established in 1971 and formerly known as the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, the AAGL is a nonprofit association with 7,000 members worldwide working to improve patient care in gynecologic surgery. Through their MISforWomen.com website, you can search for surgeons by specialty who perform minimally invasive surgery.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

Search the organization’s physician directory by location or name and find additional information, including hospital affiliations, contact information, and languages spoken.

American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery (AIMIS)

This site offers access to a "find a physician" tool with links to surgeons who perform minimally invasive procedures.

HysterSisters

There’s hardly a hysterectomy-related topic that you can’t find addressed here; the online community numbers more than 475,000 members and there are more than five million posts. The self-described “Woman-to-Woman” Hysterectomy Support group also offers a doctor directory where you can search by specialty with links to physician websites.

Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS)

SLS members specialize in minimally invasive surgeries. A search tool on their website can help you find SLS members who may specialize in obstetrics and gynecology.

Advocacy for People Living With Health Issues Related to Hysterectomy

HealthyWomen

For more than 30 years, millions of women have turned to Healthy Women for clear, concise health information. The nonprofit provides research-based facts on topics, including diseases and conditions, healthy aging, and policy issues.

HERS Foundation

Established in 1982, this foundation has been on the forefront of enlightening women about the alternatives to and the consequences of hysterectomy for nearly four decades. HERS provides information on various symptoms and conditions, details alternatives to hysterectomy, and offers free physician referrals and counseling by phone.

Our Favorite Surgery Recovery Tips and Post Hysterectomy Resources

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

What kind of pain can I expect during my recovery? Is it normal to feel this tired? You’ll find answers to these questions and others in this cancer center’s Health Library “Recovery From Hysterectomy” post.

Hysterectomy and Related Conditions: Books and Articles

  • “The ‘Madness’ of Unnecessary Hysterectomy Has to Stop” While some 10 percent of hysterectomies are performed to treat cancers of the ovaries, uterus, or cervix, the majority are considered “elective” (such as those performed in the treatment of endometriosis or fibroids after other therapies or treatments haven’t been successful in alleviating symptoms). If you are in the “thinking about it” stage, you may want to read this guest post on the Lown Institute blog. The anonymous author describes having a hysterectomy and being “overly treated and permanently harmed” by her gynecologist. For sure, it’s an interesting read and something to think about as you consider treatment options.
  • “The Unexpected Grief of a Hysterectomy” In this April 2023 article published in The New Yorker, Anna Holmes writes about the sense of loss she felt at the prospect of losing her uterus, even though she experienced problems related to fibroids for many years. She descibes a previous surgery to remove fibroids in an attempt to save a uterus that “was bringing me nothing but misery,” and grapples with a conflict between her feminist beliefs and her realization that her uterus was important to her identity as a woman.
  • “In Her Own Words: Lena Dunham on Her Decision to Have a Hysterectomy at 31” In this essay, published in March 2018 in Vogue, the actor, writer, and director Lena Dunham reflects on her decade-long struggle with endometriosis, which ultimately led her to choose hysterectomy for what she describes as a “defective” uterus.
  • “Padma Lakshmi: 'I Was Being Penalized Because I Have a Uterus'” In this article by Meredith Woerner published in April 2018 in Variety (with accompanying video), the Top Chef host and cofounder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America describes a 20-year struggle that finally led to her endometriosis diagnosis at age 36.
  • “Gabrielle Union on Her Adenomyosis Diagnosis: ‘I Finally Got Some Answers'” The actor Gabrielle Union opens up about her fertility struggles and adenomyosis diagnosis in this article by Maria Parsquini, published August 13, 2018, in People.
  • Should You Have a Hysterectomy? How to Decide Download this New York State Department of Health brochure to access information on such topics as the benefits and risks of hysterectomy, getting a second opinion, and recovery. The booklet includes a list of questions to ask your doctor as you consider the surgery.
  • The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy This invaluable source of advice and information by Lauren F. Streicher, MD, guides you through all aspects of hysterectomy, with chapters covering decisions regarding surgery, alternative procedures, and life after surgery (including sex and pregnancy concerns).
  • Gynecological Anatomy Not quite sure where your ovaries are located or exactly where your uterus lies in your body? You’re not alone, and here Johns Hopkins Medicine offers a simple, helpful graphic that will explain it all.
  • National Women’s Health Network: Hysterectomy You’ll find an excellent overview of hysterectomy here. Topics covered include surgical options, surgical and post-surgical risks, and hysterectomy alternatives.
  • Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Check out this quick synopsis by Mayo Clinic of current innovative treatment options.

Clinical Trials for Health Conditions Related to Hysterectomy

ClinicalTrials.gov

Here you can find a searchable database of studies for many conditions related to hysterectomy.

Additional reporting by Quinn Phillips.

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

Resources

References

  1. Gynecological Anatomy. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
  2. Female Reproductive System. Cleveland Clinic. November 28, 2022.
  3. Hysterectomy. National Women’s Health Network. November 11, 2022.
  4. Deleted October 18, 2023.
  5. Deleted October 18, 2023.
  6. Hysterectomy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. January 2023.
  7. Oophorectomy (Ovary Removal Surgery). Mayo Clinic. February 11, 2022.
  8. Deleted October 18, 2023.
  9. Minimally Invasive Surgery. Mayo Clinic. September 23, 2023.
  10. Deleted October 18, 2023.
  11. Uterine Fibroids. Mayo Clinic. September 15, 2023.
  12. Deleted October 18, 2023.
  13. Endometriosis. Mayo Clinic. October 12, 2023.
  14. Endometriosis: Should I Have a Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy? Michigan Medicine. April 19, 2023.
  15. What to Do About Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Harvard Health Publishing. July 2, 2020.
  16. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. April 2023.
  17. Speer LM et al. Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women. American Family Physician. March 1, 2016.
  18. Deleted November 8, 2023.
  19. Deleted November 8, 2023.
  20. Surgery for Endometrial Cancer. American Cancer Society. November 20, 2017.
  21. Can Ovarian Cancer Be Found Early? American Cancer Society. July 24, 2020.
  22. Abdominal Hysterectomy. Mayo Clinic. January 31, 2018.
  23. Recovering From Your Hysterectomy. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Sources

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