Hysterectomy

This surgery removes the uterus for cancer or other reasons. The lab report shows what was found, such as cancer or fibroids. See what to ask for and how the hair relaxer cases relate.

What is a hysterectomy, and why is it done?

It is surgery to take out the womb, also called the uterus. Doctors do it for many reasons, not just cancer. Two other reasons are growths called fibroids and severe endometriosis.

Sometimes the surgeon also takes out the fallopian tubes and ovaries. The surgery can be done through a cut in the belly, through the vagina, or with small cuts and a thin camera.

When this surgery is done for cancer of the uterus, it is most often cancer of the uterus lining, called endometrial cancer. Surgery is the most common treatment for that cancer. Surgeons may remove the uterus and cervix, both ovaries and tubes, and sometimes nearby lymph nodes.

Our uterine cancer guide explains the signs of that cancer and how it is diagnosed.

When should I talk to my doctor about a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is major surgery, and the choice belongs to you and your surgeon. Before deciding, ask what to expect afterward. If it was done for cancer, ask what treatment comes next.

Some conditions can be treated with medicine or smaller procedures instead. Ask your doctor about all your choices. Never have surgery, or a device removed, just for a lawsuit.

Writing your questions down before the visit can help you remember them.

How is a hysterectomy done, and how is uterine cancer treated?

The surgeon takes out the uterus through a cut in the belly, through the vagina, or with a scope and small cuts. Surgery is the most common way to treat the main type of uterine cancer. Some people also get radiation or hormone drugs after.

Recovery takes about 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the type of surgery. Removing the ovaries along with the uterus brings on menopause.

Risks include injury to the bladder or the tubes that carry urine, blood clots, bleeding and infection.

Which records show why a hysterectomy was done?

The pathology report is the key record. A doctor trained to study tissue looks at thin slices of the removed tissue under a microscope. The report gives the final diagnosis and shows if cancer was found.

In the hair relaxer cases, lawyers for some women told the court in 2024 that their clients knew they had a hysterectomy but not why. They did not know if it was for cancer or for fibroids. When they got the old records and pathology results, many learned they did not have one of those cancers, and their lawyers asked to drop those cases.

Ask whether the lab kept slides of the tissue. NCI says these thin slices can be saved and checked again later.

Also ask for the operative report. Federal rules say hospitals must have the surgeon write it right after surgery, describing what was found and what tissue was removed.

If the surgery was for cancer, ask for the reports on any lymph nodes that were checked.

HHS says a provider cannot turn down your request for copies just because you still owe money. Our medical records request tool walks you through a written request.

What does research say about hair relaxers, uterine cancer and hysterectomy?

A 2022 NIH study tied frequent use of hair straighteners to uterine cancer. A tie like this does not prove that the products cause cancer. NIH said more research is needed.

In this study of about 33,500 U.S. women, frequent users were more than twice as likely to get uterine cancer as women who did not use these products. Frequent use meant more than four times in the past year. NIH estimated that by age 70, 4.05% of frequent users would get it, compared with 1.64% of women who never used them.

NIH did not ask which brands or ingredients the women used.

Claims in a lawsuit are not findings. In March 2026, the companies named 12 cases they think are the best picks for possible test trials.

Who brings claims in the hair relaxer cases, and where does a hysterectomy fit?

Having a hysterectomy does not by itself mean you have a claim. The cases are about cancer and other harm people say the products caused. A lawyer can look at your records and tell you if you may have a claim.

In a March 2026 court filing, the companies described the test cases they proposed. In several, the woman had this surgery to treat uterine cancer.

The main complaint describes injuries that include uterine, ovarian and endometrial cancer.

A hysterectomy alone does not show why it was done, which is why the pathology report matters. The hair relaxer case page explains what is happening in the cases now.

Can a family member get records after a hysterectomy?

Yes, in some roles. Someone named in a health care power of attorney may be able to act for the patient. After a death, the estate’s executor or administrator can get the records tied to that job.

Doctors may share some facts with a spouse, child or friend who helped with care, if the patient did not object. HIPAA protects these records for 50 years after a death, but during that time the estate’s representative can still get them. Each state sets its own rules on who can act.

If a loved one died, our wrongful death page gives general background on those claims.