ABSTRACT
Hysterectomy remains the most common major gynecologic surgery performed in the United States, with greater than 600,000 procedures performed each year (1). Almost 40% of women in the United States have undergone a hysterectomy by the age of 65 (2). The overall rate of hysterectomy in the United States between 1994 and 1999 was 5.5 per 1000 women, with a low of 0.2 per 1000 in the 15-to 24-year age group, and a high of 11.7 per 1000 in the 40-to 44-year age group, and was essentially unchanged over this time interval. However, hysterectomy rates in perimenopausal women ages 44 to 54 increased significantly, from 8.9 per 1000 in 1994 to 10 per 1000 in 1999 (3). Additionally, women in this perimenopausal age group had the highest percentage of hysterectomies accompanied by bilateral oophorectomy (BSO), with nearly 80% having concomitant BSO at the time of hysterectomy (3). Overall, 71% of concomitant BSO were performed in women whose primary diagnosis was benign (leiomyoma, endometriosis, prolapse) (3).
