Definition
A surgical procedure involving the removal of the uterus, performed for various medical conditions including cancer, fibroids, or severe bleeding.
Etymology
From Greek 'hystera' (uterus) and '-ektomia' (cutting out), first used in English medical literature in the late 19th century. The Greek root 'hystera' also gave rise to 'hysteria', reflecting ancient misconceptions about women's health.
Kelly Says
The shared Greek root between hysterectomy and hysteria reveals how ancient cultures blamed women's emotional states on their reproductive organs. Modern medicine has completely debunked these connections, yet the linguistic legacy reminds us how medical terminology can carry historical biases.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ህስተረክቶሚ
hīsṭerēkṭōmī
ARالعربية
استئصال المبيض
istiʾṣāl al-mubīḍ
BNবাংলা
হিস্টেরেক্টমি
haisṭerēkṭōmi
CACatalà
histerectomia
/is.tɛ.rɛk.toˈmi.ə/
CSČeština
hysterektomie
/ɦɪ.stɛ.rɛk.to.mɪɛ/
DADansk
hysterektomi
/hy.stɛʁɛkˈtoːmi/
DEDeutsch
Hysterektomie
/hʏstəʁɛktoˈmiː/
ELΕλληνικά
υστερεκτομή
ysterektomī
ESEspañol
histerectomía
is.te.rek.toˈmi.a
FAفارسی
هیسترکتومی
histerktomi
FISuomi
hysterektomia
/hysterektomia/
FRFrançais
hystérectomie
/istɛʁɛktɔmi/
GUGU
હિસ્ટેરેક્ટોમી
haisṭerēkṭōmī
HAHA
hysterectomy
/hɪˈstɛrɪk.tə.mi/
HEעברית
היסטרקטומיה
histerktomiya
HIहिन्दी
हिस्टेरेक्टोमी
haisṭerēktōmī
HUMagyar
hiszterektómia
/histeɾektoːmiɒ/
IDBahasa Indonesia
histerektomi
/his.te.rek.to.mi/
IGIG
hysterectomy
/hɪˈstɛrɪk.tə.mi/
ITItaliano
isterectomia
/i.stɛ.rɛkˈtɔ.mja/
KKKK
гистерэктомия
ɡʲistɛrɛkˈtomʲɪ.jɐ
KMKM
ការវះកោសិកា
kaa vah kausĭkaa
KO한국어
자궁적출술
jagung jeok-chul-sul
MRMR
हिस्टेरेक्टॉमी
haisṭerēkṭōmī
MSBahasa Melayu
histerektomi
/his.te.rek.to.mi/
MYမြန်မာ
သားအိမ်ခွဲစိတ်
thar aing khweh site
NLNederlands
hysterectomie
/ˌɦɪ.stə.rɛk.toːˈmi/
NONorsk
hysterektomi
/hy.ste.rekˈtoːmi/
PAPA
ਹਿਸਟੇਰੈਕਟੋਮੀ
haisṭerēkṭōmī
PLPolski
histerektomia
/xistɛrɛkˈtɔmja/
PTPortuguês
histerectomia
/is.tɛ.ʁɛk.toˈmi.ɐ/
RORomână
histerectomie
/his.te.rek.to.mi.e/
RUРусский
гистерэктомия
ɡʲistɛrɛkˈtomʲɪ.jɐ
SVSvenska
hysterektomi
/hy.ste.rekˈtoːmi/
SWKiswahili
upasuaji wa uke
/u.pɑ.su.ɑ.ʒi wa u.kɛ/
TAதமிழ்
கருப்பை அகற்றுதல்
karuppai akattudal
TEతెలుగు
హిస్టెరెక్టమీ
haisṭerēkṭamī
THไทย
การผ่าตัดมดลูก
kān phātad mod lūk
TLTL
hysterectomy
/hɪˈstɛrɪk.tə.mi/
TRTürkçe
histerektomi
/his.te.rek.to.mi/
UKУкраїнська
гістеректомія
ɦʲistɛrɛkˈtomʲɪ.jɐ
URاردو
ہسٹیریکٹومی
haisṭerēkṭōmī
VITiếng Việt
phẫu thuật cắt tử cung
phẫu thuật cắt tử cung
YOYO
hysterectomy
/hɪˈstɛrɪk.tə.mi/
ZH中文
子宫切除术
zǐ gōng qiē chú shù
ZUZU
hysterectomy
/hɪˈstɛrɪk.tə.mi/
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
The term derives from 'hystera' (uterus, Greek); historically, medical removal of the uterus was prescribed for 'female hysteria'—a vague diagnosis used to pathologize women's emotions and sexuality, justifying unnecessary surgery.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'hysterectomy' as neutral medical terminology today (the problematic etymology is historical). However, acknowledge when discussing the procedure that historical hysterectomy rates reflected gender bias in medical practice, not medical necessity.
Empowerment Note
Women's reproductive autonomy has expanded through informed consent and second-opinion norms; hysterectomy is now a legitimate choice for some, distinct from its use as an instrument of gynecological control.