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Procedure

Hysterectomy

Surgical removal of the uterus.

Surgical removal of the uterus.

A hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus, ending menstruation and the ability to become pregnant. It may be done for fibroids, heavy bleeding, endometriosis, or other conditions.

Because there is no longer a uterus to protect, a woman who takes hormone therapy after hysterectomy can often use estrogen alone.

Related terms

Oophorectomy

Surgical removal of one or both ovaries.

Uterine fibroids

Common noncancerous growths of the muscular wall of the uterus.

Endometrium

The inner lining of the uterus that thickens and sheds across the menstrual cycle.

HRT

Treatment that replaces estrogen (with a progestogen if the uterus is present) for menopause symptoms.

Source

MedlinePlus: Hysterectomy

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