Hysterectomy and Women’s Health

• Recent study published in Women’s Reproductive Health as ‘Reported Reasons for Undertaking Hysterectomy Among the Women Aged 45 Years and Above: Evidence from Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) Wave-1 (2017–2018) ‘.
• Removal of the uterus or hysterectomy is one of the most frequently conducted surgeries among women globally.
• It is considered a major surgery, though advances in technology now allow for minimally-invasive removal of the uterus too.

Common causes for doing a hysterectomy:

1. Majorly due to fibroids (47.6%), uterovaginal prolapse (13.4%), benign ovarian cysts (12%), malignancy (9%), and adenomyosis (6%).
2. Sometimes for removal of other parts of the female reproductive system, such as the ovary, fallopian tubes, and cervix.
3. The surgery is done, when all else fails, to alleviate symptoms of gynaecological disorders — irregular bleeding, menorrhagia, pelvic pain, and bodily discomfort.
4. It can also reduce anxiety and depression in women, enhancing their quality of life according to many studies.
5. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued guidelines last year to prevent unnecessary hysterectomies.
6. There are rising hysterectomy rates among young women, ranging from 28 to 36 years in India.
7. There are unnecessary hysterectomies performed in cases where medical or non-invasive treatment would have been sufficient.
8. Reports of potential coercion for financial benefit under health insurance schemes and concerns about a lack of information provided to women on side effects.
9. According to NFHS-5 (2019-2021), 3.3% of women in the age group of 15-49 years had a hysterectomy. The study shows that 50% of the women got these surgeries before attaining age 35.
10. The average prevalence rate of hysterectomy is estimated to be 17 per 1,000 among ever-married women between the ages of 15-49 years.

Dig Deeper: Read Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare guidelines for hysterectomy.