Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy, surgical removal of the womb, with or without the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It may be performed via either the abdomen or the vagina and is most often used for fibroid tumors (benign tumors of womb muscle), cancer of the cervix or body of the womb, endometriosis, or other diseases causing heavy menstruation. If the ovaries are preserved, hormone secretion remains intact, though menstrual periods cease and infertility is inevitable. Recent controversy has questioned the overuse of the procedure because of the negative effects on general health.