Hysterectomy: What You Need to Know About This Surgical Procedure
Women's HealthGynecologic Surgery & Procedures
Explore This Topic

What Is a Hysterectomy?

What Is a Hysterectomy?
Everyday Health
By
Updated on March 21, 2025
by

A hysterectomy is a surgical operation to remove the uterus, which is the hollow, pear-shaped organ in the lower abdomen where a fetus develops and grows. A hysterectomy is usually performed to treat a health condition when other therapies — such as medication, hormone treatments, or less-invasive surgical procedures — have been unsuccessful in completely alleviating symptoms like 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.

Types of Hysterectomy Surgery

There are three types of hysterectomy, and they each remove different parts of the reproductive system.

  • Total Hysterectomy This is the removal of the entire uterus, including the cervix (the lower narrower portion of the uterus).
  • Supracervical (aka 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.
During these procedures, one or both of the ovaries may also be removed, which is known as an oophorectomy. The surgical removal of the fallopian tubes is called a salpingectomy. When both are removed, it’s called a salpingo-oophorectomy.

Why Is a Hysterectomy Done?

There are several medical reasons why a woman would consider having her uterus removed. It’s typically done as an elective surgery rather than a life-saving one.

Uterine Fibroids

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.

Fibroids don’t always cause symptoms. When they do, they can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual periods (lasting more than a week), pelvic pain, lower back pain, or painful intercourse. While symptoms often respond to medication or nonsurgical treatment, sometimes the symptoms are severe enough to warrant hysterectomy, which is the only permanent solution for uterine fibroids.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease in which the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus, causing painful menstrual cramps, chronic pain in the lower back and pelvis, intestinal pain, bleeding or spotting between periods, and infertility. Most often endometriosis is found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the peritoneum (pelvic sidewall).

Hormone therapy, pain medication, and minimally invasive procedures may be performed to treat this condition. But when those options fail to keep the disease at bay, a hysterectomy may be performed.

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.

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 of abnormal uterine bleeding. Medication and surgical procedures like endometrial ablation or uterine artery embolization are common treatments, but a person may opt for a hysterectomy as a solution.

Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain typically 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 like 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.

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, and hysterectomy may be recommended.

Gynecologic Cancers

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

Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. The surgery may involve hysterectomy, especially if the cancer is advanced.

 Hysterectomy is also a common treatment for invasive cervical cancers.

How Is a Hysterectomy Performed?

There are several approaches to the surgery, and the type of procedure your doctor will perform will often depend on your particular medical situation.

 Each option involves unique risks and benefits, and recovery time can vary for the different methods.

Abdominal Hysterectomy

This type of surgery removes the uterus through a cut in the abdomen, which is known as an open procedure. It typically involves a hospital stay of (at most) two to three nights. Full abdominal surgery 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.

Vaginal Hysterectomy

In this procedure, the uterus is removed through the vagina, so no abdominal incision is made. Vaginal hysterectomy generally involves the least postsurgery pain and leaves no visible scarring. It’s 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 because of the size and position of the vagina, vaginal hysterectomy may not be an option.

Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

During this procedure, the surgeon makes a few small incisions in the 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 then be removed in small pieces through the incisions, through a larger incision made in the abdomen, or through the vagina.

How Do I Prepare for a Hysterectomy?

It’s important to take care of your health before surgery to keep you strong for the procedure and to help shorten recovery time. Take walks, work out, do yoga, and eat a healthy diet. Also make sure you have clothes that will be suitable for your recovery, such as yoga pants or pajamas that are comfortable and easy to get on and off.

If you have kids, schedule childcare during your recovery. You will be unable to lift, drive, or carry children for a while following a hysterectomy.

If you’re also having your ovaries removed, it will immediately put you into menopause. Before the surgery takes place, learn about common menopausal symptoms and explore options for managing them, such as using fans, cooling sheets, and cool packs for hot flashes.

What Should I Expect During a Hysterectomy?

Prior to the procedure, you will be given an intravenous (IV) line in your arm or hand to provide fluids and medications. You will also likely be given general anesthesia to help numb any pain. You will be asleep and unaware of what’s happening during the surgical procedure. Once it’s completed, any incisions will be closed with stitches, staples, or surgical glue.

When you return to the recovery room, you will be given medicine for pain. You will have some bleeding from the vagina that will necessitate sanitary pads. You will also be provided liquids or light meals to help give your digestive system an opportunity to return to normal.

What Are the Potential Risks and Complications Associated With a Hysterectomy?

As with any type of surgery, some complications may occur. Risks associated with hysterectomy include:

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

What Type of Care Is Needed Following a Hysterectomy?

How long it takes to bounce back from surgery will depend on the type of surgery you receive. Following abdominal hysterectomy, you may need to stay in the hospital for a day or two — sometimes a bit longer. If a woman has a laparoscopic hysterectomy, she can often go home the same day. You can expect some pain for the first few days, but medication should help.

Keep any incisions clean, and pat (don’t rub) them dry. You can shower immediately, but you may need to wait four weeks before taking a bath. Clean the incision daily with warm water and gentle soap. Your healthcare provider should give you specific instructions for incision care if you have one.

Avoid lifting any objects that weigh more than 20 pounds for six weeks after surgery. Generally, you should avoid vaginal intercourse, or putting anything in your vagina (including tampons), for eight weeks after a hysterectomy.

The Takeaway

  • A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. It is performed to treat health conditions like uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or chronic pelvic pain when other treatments have not been successful.
  • Hysterectomy is typically the treatment of choice for people with gynecologic cancers, such as endometrial, ovarian, or cervical cancers.
  • There are different types of hysterectomy surgeries, and some are more invasive than others. The choice a doctor makes depends largely on individual medical needs.
  • If you experience severe symptoms following the procedure, such as excessive bleeding or prolonged pelvic pain, seek immediate medical attention.

Common Questions & Answers

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

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

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 in which cancer is present.
Yes. With a mortality rate of less than 1 percent, 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.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
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
  1. Hysterectomy. Cleveland Clinic. May 31, 2024.
  2. Oophorectomy (Ovary Removal Surgery). Mayo Clinic. April 17, 2024.
  3. Uterine Fibroids. Office on Women’s Health. February 28, 2025.
  4. Uterine Fibroids. Mayo Clinic. September 15, 2023.
  5. Endometriosis. Cleveland Clinic. September 16, 2024.
  6. What to Do About Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Harvard Health Publishing. July 2, 2020.
  7. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. April 2023.
  8. Dydyk AM et al. Chronic Pelvic Pain. StatPearls. April 1, 2023.
  9. Adenomyosis. Mayo Clinic. April 6, 2023.
  10. Key Statistics for Endometrial Cancer. American Cancer Society. February 28, 2025.
  11. Can Ovarian Cancer Be Found Early? American Cancer Society. July 24, 2020.
  12. Surgery for Cervical Cancer. American Cancer Society. June 28, 2024.
  13. Hysterectomy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. September 2024.
  14. Hysterectomy Techniques. Stanford Medicine.
  15. Hysterectomy Surgery Checklist. Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered.
  16. Hysterectomy: What to Expect. St. Luke’s.
  17. Abdominal Hysterectomy. Mayo Clinic. February 28, 2023.
  18. Recovering From Your Hysterectomy. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Meet Our Experts
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
kara-leigh-smythe-bio

Kara Smythe, MD

Medical Reviewer

Kara Smythe, MD, has been working in sexual and reproductive health for over 10 years. Dr. Smythe is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and her interests include improving maternal health, ensuring access to contraception, and promoting sexual health.

She graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in biology and earned her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She worked in Maine for six years, where she had the privilege of caring for an underserved population.

Smythe is also passionate about the ways that public health policies shape individual health outcomes. She has a master’s degree in population health from University College London and recently completed a social science research methods master's degree at Cardiff University. She is currently working on her PhD in medical sociology. Her research examines people's experiences of accessing, using, and discontinuing long-acting reversible contraception.

When she’s not working, Smythe enjoys dancing, photography, and spending time with her family and her cat, Finnegan.

See full bio

Quinn Phillips

Author

A freelance health writer and editor based in Wisconsin, Quinn Phillips has a degree in government from Harvard University. He writes on a variety of topics, but is especially interested in the intersection of health and public policy. Phillips has written for various publications and websites, such as Diabetes Self-Management, Practical Diabetology, and Gluten-Free Living, among others.

See full bio
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network