Definition: The surgical removal of the uterus that may or may not also be accompanied by the removal of the cervix and/or ovaries. If ovaries remain, the hysterectomy doesn’t necessarily cause menopause, though menstrual bleeding ceases.
Pronunciation: his-ter-EK-tuh-mee
Also Known As: surgical menopause; complete hysterectomy, partial hysterectomy
Examples: She did not go through menopause until years after her hysterectomy because the ovaries were not removed.