A hysterectomy is an operation to remove your womb (uterus). After the operation you will no longer be able to have children. If you have not yet gone through the menopause, you will no longer have periods.

A hysterectomy is used to treat conditions that affect the female reproductive system, such as heavy periods (menorrhagia), chronic (long-term) pelvic pain, non-cancerous tumours (fibroids) and cancer of the ovaries, womb, cervix or fallopian tubes.

A hysterectomy is a major operation with a long recovery time. It is usually only considered after alternative, less invasive treatments have been tried.

Types of hysterectomy

There are different types of hysterectomy. The type you have depends on the reason for your surgery and how much of the womb and surrounding reproductive system can safely be left in place. The main types include:

• Total hysterectomy: this is the most commonly performed operation. The womb and cervix (neck of the womb) are removed.
• Subtotal hysterectomy: the main body of the womb is removed leaving the cervix (neck of the womb) in place.
• Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: the womb, cervix, fallopian tubes (salpingectomy) and the ovaries (oophorectomy) are removed.
• Radical hysterectomy: the womb and surrounding tissues are removed, including the fallopian tubes, part of the vagina, ovaries, lymph glands and fatty tissue.

1. Removing uterus through vagina

2. Pelvic bone

3. Bladder

4. Fallopian tubes and ovaries

There are three ways to perform a hysterectomy:

• Vaginal hysterectomy: the womb is removed through a cut in the top of the vagina.
• Abdominal hysterectomy: the womb is removed through a cut in the lower abdomen.
• Laparoscopic hysterectomy (keyhole surgery): the womb is removed through a number of small cuts in the abdomen.

For more information see How it is performed.

Surgical menopause

If you have a hysterectomy that also removes your ovaries, you will go through the menopause immediately following your operation, regardless of your age. This is known as a surgical menopause.

If a hysterectomy leaves one or both of your ovaries intact, there is a chance you will go through the menopause within five years of your operation.

How common is it?

Hysterectomies are common in the UK. Around 40,000 are carried out by the NHS every year. Most of these are performed on women aged between 40 and 50.