Take, for example, the story of Becky Ulrich.
Painful, heavy periods were disrupting Becky’s life. To find out why, she went to the gynecologist for tests. A pap smear soon revealed “questionable cells,” which led healthcare professionals to schedule an internal sonogram.
Through the sonogram, a concerning issue was discovered. That issue was a number of fibroid tumors in her uterus. But that was the least of Becky’s problems.
Further procedures revealed a terrifying diagnosis. Becky had uterine and endometrial cancer. As a result, she underwent a hysterectomy in her mid-forties.
Becky’s story is not unique. Hysterectomies are a relatively common thing. According to the Office on Women’s Health, hysterectomies rank as the second most common operation that females undergo each year (outranked by just one thing: cesarean section). In fact, over 500,000 women have hysterectomies annually.
So what exactly is a hysterectomy?
According to the Office on Women’s Health, a hysterectomy is a procedure in which a woman’s uterus is removed. (A quick refresher-this is the area of the body that harbors the growth of a baby.) Sometimes the fallopian tubes and ovaries are also removed. Once a hysterectomy is performed, it is no longer possible to conceive and menstruation ceases.
Hysterectomy is a general term used for three different procedures. The first is called a total hysterectomy. In this procedure, the entire uterus (including the cervix) is removed. This is the type of hysterectomy that is most often performed.
The second type of hysterectomy that doctors may suggest is a partial hysterectomy. This is also called a subtotal or supracervical hysterectomy. In this procedure, the upper portion of the uterus is the only thing removed. However, the cervix remains.
The third type of hysterectomy performed is a radical hysterectomy. This is the type of hysterectomy that is often used when some types of cancer are present. In this procedure, the entire uterus and cervix are removed.
There are five common reasons that doctors would recommend a hysterectomy. Following are those reasons.
1. Endometriosis
Many with endometriosis will tell you one thing: it hurts. According to the Endometriosis Association, up to 6.3 million American females are affected by this condition.
In the case of endometriosis, endometrium tissue grows in the wrong place (endometrial implant). This tissue normally lines the uterus. But in those with endometriosis, it grows outside of the uterus in places it should not be.
Consequently, a woman’s menstrual cycle is affected because the tissue acts in the same way it would during a menstrual cycle. It increases and then tries to expel itself. However, it has nowhere to go in order to exit the body. As a result, a woman bleeds internally. This can lead to pain, the inability to conceive, issues with the bowels, and the formation of scar tissue.
It is important to note that hysterectomy is not performed in all cases of endometriosis.
2. Cancer
Becky is just one example of the thousands of women who receive hysterectomies each year due to cancer. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, cancer accounts for 10 percent of all hysterectomies. This often includes patients with: endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, uterine sarcoma, ovarian cancer, and cancer of the fallopian tubes. In general, doctors choose this procedure to ensure that all cancer is removed and to decrease the chance of cancer recurring.
3. Heavy Periods
Heavy periods, medically known as menorrhagia, can be a frustrating thing. Cramping and blood loss are just two of the factors that can make a woman feel awful. Needless to say, this can put a damper on daily life.
Sometimes, no cause can be found for heavy periods. As a result, a doctor may recommend a hysterectomy to stop menstruation altogether. Experts say that this happens when treatments have not worked and bleeding in general affects life. This is often an option for women who do not plan on getting pregnant in the future.
4. Uterine Prolapse
According to the Office on Women’s Health, a uterine prolapse occurs when the uterus slips out of place. As a result, it travels down the vagina.
There are a number of reasons this condition can occur. Most commonly, it is seen in women who have had multiple births vaginally. However, it can also occur as a result of menopause. Further, obesity can cause this condition to occur.
It is important to know that a hysterectomy may not be needed in the case of a small prolapse. However, in large cases, this procedure may be advised. If doctors have suggested a hysterectomy, don’t be afraid to ask questions. And if you’re not comfortable with the answers, get a second opinion.
5. Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are common. In fact, the Mayo Clinic says that 3 in 4 women may have this condition at some point in life. However, uterine fibroids usually do not cause symptoms. That’s why they’re often found through a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound. (They’re most common during our childbearing years.) When they do cause symptoms, it’s usually bleeding, pain, and pressure.
Uterine fibroids, medically referred to as leiomyomas or myomas, are benign (not cancerous) tumors. In fact, they don’t usually increase one’s risk of cancer and don’t usually become cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, fibroids can be big or small. In addition, they can continue to grow or stay the same size. Sometimes they even get smaller or disappear on their own. (They often go away after pregnancy, for example.)
Surgery is one method of treatment used for uterine fibroids. When a hysterectomy is performed, the fibroids are removed along with the uterus. However, another type of surgery used is called myomectomy. In this surgical method, only the fibroids are removed. Though surgery is usually not necessary, it is used if there is a possibility of cancer.