Hysterectomies pattern at a tertiary healthcare center, northern Nigeria

Background: The uterus is an important female genital organ for menstrual and reproductive functions. However, there are various gynecologic and obstetric indications for carrying out hysterectomy.Objectives: To determine the indications and the patterns of hysterectomies done at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria Nigeria.Materials and Methods: 5‑year retrospective descriptive study on patients who had hysterectomy done from 2011 to 2015.Results: The age range of the patients was 2–70 years with a mean of 48.6 ± 8.8 years. Hysterectomies constituted 19.3% of total gynecology surgeries done during the same period. Of these total abdominal hysterectomy 144 (87.8%) was the most common, next was vaginal hysterectomy with pelvic floor repair 13 (7.9%), and then subtotal hysterectomy was 7 (4.3%). The most common indication for total abdominal hysterectomy was multiple uterine fibroids, a benign uterine tumor.Conclusion: Hysterectomy is a common gynecological surgery which may be used to treat benign uterine pathologies, especially when there is no more desire for conception. It could also be lifesaving in uncontrollable postpartum hemorrhage as well as malignant pelvic organ pathologies, especially in early stages.Keywords: Gynecological surgery; hysterectomy, pattern; uterine fibroid