The Pros And Cons Of Hysterectomy

The uterus or the womb is the childbearing organ of a woman’s body. The surgical removal of the uterus is called hysterectomy and it may be partial or total, depending on whether or not, the removal of cervix (birth canal), ovaries, and fallopian tube accompany it. The surgical removal of one or both ovaries is termed as oophorectomy. Although removal of uterus has become a common occurrence today, it is widely perceived that more hysterectomies are performed than are actually required.

Reasons For Surgery

Hysterectomy is performed for a variety of reasons. Some of the common ones include heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding; dysmenorrhoea (severe pain accompanying menstruation); fibroids, gynecological cancer, endometriosis (movement of cells from the uterus lining to other parts of the body); inflammatory disease of pelvic by bacterial infection; or prolapse (collapse of the uterus due to loose ligaments or damage to the pelvic muscles). Although, these are generally considered, before performing a hysterectomy, they cannot be taken as a yardstick for surgical intervention. The final decision rests heavily, on the severity of the condition or disease as well as other intrinsic factors.

To Do Or Not To Do

Hysterectomy has both; advantages and disadvantages. This means that, there may be cases when an alternate treatment method can be considered and there may be cases when hysterectomy may be the best alternative. Although developments in medical care have simplified the surgical procedure and shortened recovery time for a hysterectomy, it is still a major operation. The risk factors associated with it are almost the same, as for any major surgery.

Ideally, a hysterectomy should be considered as a last resort, only when all other options have failed. Many patients who have crossed the childbearing age feel that hysterectomy is a logical option. This is not true, as the uterus has several other important functions, besides serving as a receptacle for the growing fetus. Some of the functions are listed: