There are many reasons why hysterectomies are carried out, the most common being fibroids and unexplained heavy menstrual bleeding. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare studies indicate that fibroids account for about 6500 (22%) and heavy menstrual bleeding for about 5300 (18%) of the estimated 30 000 hysterectomies performed in Australia each year. In the US, fibroids are said to be responsible for as many as 30% of hysterectomies and a further 20% are due to excessive bleeding of uncertain cause. Other major reasons given for the hysterectomies performed in Australia are prolapse (7-21% depending on the type of hospital and State in which it is located), endometriosis and adenomyosis (6-23%), cancer (1-12%) and pelvic inflammatory disease (2-8%). Multiple reasons are given for the remaining hysterectomies.
While information is available about the number of women who have hysterectomies and the underlying reasons, much greater uncertainty surrounds the women who consider the option of hysterectomy but decide against it. It is probable that these women number many, many thousands.
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Tags: Women’s Health
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