Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy in Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction Hysterectomy is a common surgical procedure in women, and oophorectomy may also be performed with the hysterectomy. The objective of this study was to identify clinical indications and pathological findings in hysterectomies, performed for gynecological causes, in women of reproductive age (15-49 years) and to determine if oophorectomy or ovarian conservation was performed with the hysterectomy as well as the pathological findings in the ovaries. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of Pathology at Dow Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan, from September 2017 to December 2018. Data were recorded from the pathology reports of hysterectomy specimens received in the department. Data of hysterectomies performed for gynecological causes in women of reproductive age group were selected and analyzed, using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington) and SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York). Data of women more than 49 years and obstetric hysterectomies were excluded. Results Three hundred sixty-one hysterectomies were received; 157 of which were hysterectomies performed in women of reproductive age for gynecological reasons. The mean age of the women was 40.37 (± 5.47) years. Abnormal uterine bleeding was the most frequent clinical indication for hysterectomy in 81 (51.59%) women, followed by uterine prolapse in 29 (18.47%) and leiomyoma in 22 (14.01%). Common pathologies in the endometrium were endometritis in 14 (8.92%) and endometrial polyp in nine (5.73%). In the myometrium, leiomyoma was reported in 52 (33.12%) cases, adenomyosis in 37 (23.57%), and both leiomyoma and adenomyosis in 37 (23.57%) women. Uterine prolapse was histologically identified in 38 (24.20%) women. Oophorectomy was performed on 107 (68.15%) women, and out of these, 83 (77.59%) women's ovaries showed either normal histology or functional cysts. Ovarian pathologies reported were endometriosis, serous cystadenomas and oophoritis in five patients each (4.81%), ovarian serous carcinoma in three (2.88%), and mucinous carcinoma in one (0.96%) patient. Conclusion Abnormal uterine bleeding was the most common clinical indication for hysterectomy in women of reproductive age. The common pathologies in the hysterectomies were endometritis, endometrial polyp, leiomyoma, adenomyosis, and uterine prolapse. Most of the ovaries removed with the hysterectomy did not show any significant pathology, therefore, further studies in this direction are recommended for confirmation of this finding. Ovarian conservation may be considered in women undergoing hysterectomy for abnormal uterine bleeding or other uterine causes and with no radiological or surgical indication for oophorectomy.