"It doesn't necessarily mean removing the tubes and ovaries. It doesn't necessarily mean going into menopause which is a very common misperception that people have,” explained Dr. Susan Chapman of Castle Medical Center.
There was a time, according to Dr. Chapman, when having a hysterectomy was somewhat complicated.
"But more and more we're doing minimally invasive surgery where we're doing the surgery where we do the surgery through a one centimeter incision in the navel and a few other five millimeter incisions. Patients can sometimes go home from the hospital the same day of the surgery."
We wondered about the most important steps a woman should consider when it comes to a possible hysterectomy.
"Well, I think point A, she should first discuss with her physician why a hysterectomy is recommended and I think they should discuss what alternatives there might be for a hysterectomy. One of the most common reasons for hysterectomy is abnormal uterine bleeding or heavy menstrual periods."
Dr. Chapman says a hysterectomy is not always called for. There are medications or minor surgical procedures that can help. Women and their partners often ask questions about their physical relationship following a hysterectomy.
"Because usually hysterectomies are done for either pain or bleeding, which obviously interferes with having an intimate relationship, most of the patients find that their sex activity, their sex life, their intimacy actually improve after they've had a hysterectomy."
One in three women in the U.S. will have a hysterectomy by the age of 60.
