Hysterectomies will be a part of health survey

August 27, 2013

The government will collect information on Hysterectomies in the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) in the 4^th round which is scheduled in January 2014.

What is “Hysterectomy”?

Hysterectomy is the complete or partial removal of the uterus and sometimes ovaries, cervix and fallopian tubes, usually performed by a gynecologist.

Hysterectomy may be of two types:

a) Total i.e. removing the body, fundus, and cervix of the uterus; often called “complete”.

b) Partial i.e. removal of the uterine body while leaving the cervix intact; also called “supracervical”.

Why is Hysterectomy performed?

Hysterectomy is opted for if the uterus is causing health problems that cannot be treated by other means. Some reasons a woman may have a hysterectomy are to:

Treat cancers such as uterine , endometrial, or ovarian cancers
Remove uterine fibroids -common, benign (noncancerous) tumors that grow in the muscle of the uterus
Treat chronic pelvic pain
Treat heavy bleeding

Why hysterectomies is being included in the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) ?

The step has been taken keeping in view the demand from the health activists and medical practitioners following reports of rising cases of hysterectomies across the country. According to the activists deceitful doctors were performing hysterectomies on pre-menopausal and even women younger than 30 years for monetary gains.

The data generated during the NFHS could be used for formulating guidelines to conduct surgeries for removing the uterus. Hysterectomy may have a significant impact on woman’s health.
So the rising concern is not just about the high expenditure and medical ethics but also about the complications and troubles that follow.
Presently there are no exact statistics to show the prevalence rate of these operations and it is believed that they are the second most common surgeries performed on women, second only to caesarean sections.

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