Why are there so many hysterectomies in the US?

One morning in the locker room I posed this question to a n OB-GYN colleague about a specific patient. His reply was:

“She has the classic triad: a) she has a uterus b) she wants it out and c) she has insurance.”

The above comments are juvenile and an insult to reader’s intelligence. I’ve been an Ob/Gyn for 20 years and I’ve never performed a hysterectomy unless there is an established indication, and alternatives and risks have been discussed w/ the patient.

Question from a non-doctor: where does the word “hysterectomy” come from? An “appendectomy” is when you take out the appendix, right? So is “hyster” the latin word for uterus?

Maybe my opinion about a hyst. vary from others. I had a radical performed by an oncologist at a cancer center for invasive cancer.

i cannot imagine any woman who would EVER think of just wanting to get rid of her uterus this much. Do the words self catherization (for years) and atonic bowel mean anything? Who in the living hell would ever just WANT to experience that? Maybe these things dont happen with just the everyday hysts but they certainly do when it is a radical, done for cancer. I also certainly hope that NO doctor would do this surgery on someone just for the hell of it. I wish a uterus is all that was involved with this surgery. You must every one of you be men, to think women WANT to go through this.

To Mike: You don’t really think the complexity/risk of elective plastic surgery procedures are limited to facial touch ups — do you? (liposuction, gender reassignments etc…)

To Anon 12:08: I agree with j. hubbard…there’s ALWAYS a reason for a hysterectomy (you idiot). but i DO see your point since elective C-section is becoming more and more prevalent…when just several years ago there’s no way OB’s would have agreed to doing an elective C-section just because the mother wanted to have one.