Authors: Edward E. Wallach, Esther Eisenberg
Hysterectomy is the second most common major surgical procedure performed on women in the United States. Because of new nonsurgical treatments and the rising opposition to the procedure from women's and patients' groups, hysterectomies are performed less frequently than in the past, but many disorders of the uterus -
fibroid tumors, uterine and cervical cancer,
pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine prolapse - still may require surgical treatment. For some women, the decision to have a hysterectomy is an easy one; for others, it is a difficult choice associated with concerns about risks, discomfort, and female identity.In Hysterectomy: Exploring Your Options