Hysterectomy

Uterus

About

A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman's uterus. Depending on the reason for the hysterectomy, a surgeon may choose to remove all or only part of the uterus.

In a supracervial or subtotal hysterectomy, a surgeon removes only the upper part of the uterus, keeping the cervix in place.

A total hysterectomy removes the whole uterus and cervix.

In a radical hysterectomy, a surgeon removes the whole uterus, tissue on the sides of the uterus, the cervix, and the top part of the vagina. Radical hysterectomy is generally only done when cancer is present.