Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed from a woman's body. This operation can be performed for various reasons, including severe cases of endometriosis or fibroids, cancer of the uterus, and heavy bleeding that doesn't respond to other treatments. In some cases, the ovaries and fallopian tubes may also be removed during a hysterectomy, which is known as a total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy. After this procedure, women are no longer able to become pregnant or experience menstrual periods.