AUCKLAND, New Zealand, May 12 (UPI) -- A complete hysterectomy is not more likely to cause sexual difficulties, urinary or bowel problems than removing just the uterus, says a New Zealand review.
The findings contradict perceptions among some women and physicians that retaining the cervix is preferable or necessary to pelvic function and that only the uterus need be removed.
Total hysterectomy is a slightly more complex and lengthy operation, but the likelihood of ongoing menstrual bleeding after surgery is increased with subtotal hysterectomy, according to the review published in The Cochrane Library.
"Women considering surgery will have to balance the supposed advantages of a less complicated surgery with a risk of cyclical bleeding after subtotal hysterectomy," said lead author Anne Lethaby of the University of Auckland in New Zealand. "The review did not find any other differences."
The reviewers identified three randomized controlled trials enrolling a total of 733 women that compared subtotal and total hysterectomy for non-cancerous conditions. The most common reasons for hysterectomy in these trials were fibroids and heavy menstrual bleeding.
