A hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus. The uterus is where a baby grows. You won't have periods or be able to get pregnant after having a hysterectomy.

Your doctor may offer a hysterectomy if you have:

• Uterine fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Severe or long-term pelvic pain
• Uterine prolapse
• Heavy, abnormal bleeding
• Cancer of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries

There are several types of hysterectomy procedures. They include:

• Total hysterectomy: Doctors remove the uterus and cervix. It's the most common type of hysterectomy.
• Partial hysterectomy (supracervical): Doctors remove the upper part of the uterus but leave the cervix.
• Radical hysterectomy: Doctors remove the uterus, cervix, and some surrounding tissue. They may perform this surgery if they diagnose or suspect cancer.

If you're having a hysterectomy, your doctor may suggest taking out your fallopian tubes (salpingectomy). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends this to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.

Your doctor may recommend removing your ovaries (oophorectomy) along with your uterus. This may be done for reasons such as ovarian cysts or a high risk of ovarian or breast cancer. If both ovaries are removed before menopause, you will enter early menopause.

If they remove both ovaries and both fallopian tubes during surgery, that's a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

A hysterectomy can relieve pain and improve your quality of life. But there's no "one size fits all" answer for everyone. Your doctor will talk to you about deciding to have a hysterectomy.

Things to consider:

• Your age
• Your plans for having children, if you haven't yet reached menopause
• The reason for the hysterectomy (i.e., if you have uterine cancer, it's more urgent than other conditions)
• The severity and duration of your symptoms and how they affect your quality of life
• Your personal preferences
• Whether you've tried other treatments

Doctors used to perform hysterectomies with a large incision and open surgery in the abdomen. These days, they do most hysterectomies through the vagina or with minimally invasive surgery through the abdomen.

In a vaginal hysterectomy, doctors remove the uterus through the vagina without making any incisions. It has few complications and a shorter recovery time than abdominal surgery. But if you have a large uterus or scar tissue from previous surgeries, a vaginal hysterectomy may not be an option.

Minimally invasive (laparoscopic) hysterectomy consists of a few small incisions in your belly. It's often an outpatient procedure, meaning you'll go home the same day. Here's what to expect.

Before

You'll see your doctor for a pre-op visit before the surgery. They'll discuss the best surgical approach for your medical history and lifestyle. They may instruct you to:

• Quit smoking
• Take antibiotics to prevent infection and pain relievers (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen) to decrease inflammation
• Apply a skin patch to prevent nausea after the surgery
• Fast for 6 hours before your surgery
• Drink a clear sports or nutrition drink for energy to get through the surgery
• Arrange for someone to drive you home

During

The procedure itself will take about 1 - 3 hours. During that time:

• You'll have anesthesia so that you won't be awake during the surgery
• Your doctor will make several small cuts in your belly
• They'll insert a laparoscope (tiny camera on a tube) to see the pelvic organs
• They'll remove your uterus in small pieces

After

You may go home the same day as the surgery, but full recovery will take 2 - 6 weeks. During that time, you should:

• Resume your normal activities slowly
• Take pain medication as prescribed
• Wear compression stockings to prevent blood clots
• Take time off work to rest and heal
• Use a heating pad on your belly for pain relief
• Don’t take baths or swim in pools or open water for at least 4 weeks after surgery
• Don't have sex or put anything in your vagina for at least 6 weeks after surgery

Postoperative care includes pain management, recovery planning, and pelvic floor therapy to support healing and long-term health.

As with any surgery, there are some small risks to having a hysterectomy. They include:

• Heavy bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Blood clots in the legs
• Damage to another pelvic organ, such as bladder or bowel
• Breathing or heart problems (from a reaction to general anesthesia)

If you've had your ovaries removed during your hysterectomy, you'll go into early menopause.