Did You Need That Hysterectomy?

Nearly 40 percent of these surgeries may not be necessary

Each year, tens of thousands of women have unnecessary hysterectomies—many without even being told other treatments are available.PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/Shutterstock

While Cesarean delivery remains the most common surgical procedure among women of reproductive age, hysterectomy isn’t far behind, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The second most common surgery for women of childbearing age, hysterectomy involves the surgical removal of the womb. It can be performed using three different techniques: vaginal, abdominal, and laparoscopic.

According to the National Women’s Health Network, approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed each year.