What is Hysterectomy—Open Surgery?

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You may have a hysterectomy if your uterus is causing health problems that cannot be treated by other means. Some reasons a woman may have a hysterectomy are to:

• Treat cancers such as uterine , endometrial, or ovarian cancers
• Remove uterine fibroids —common, benign (noncancerous) tumors that grow in the muscle of the uterus
• Treat chronic pelvic pain
• Treat heavy bleeding

Explore your options before having a hysterectomy. There are other treatments for many of these problems.

Possible Complications

If you are planning to have hysterectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Reactions to anesthesia
• Pain
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Fatigue
• Injured pelvic organs (bowel and/or bladder)
• Urinary incontinence (problems controlling your urine)
• Loss of ovarian function and early menopause
• Depression
• Sexual dysfunction

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Heart or lung disease
• Diabetes
• Previous pelvic surgery or serious infection
• Use of prescription and nonprescription drugs during the past month

Be sure to discuss the risks with your doctor before surgery.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact...