Although mentioned in the times of Soranus of Ephesus in Greece in the year 120 A.D., hysterectomies were not performed clinically until the 19th century. In the 21st century, hysterectomy has fallen from its position as a central surgical procedure in modern gynaecological practice, although surgical advancements including laparoscopic hysterectomies have emerged in the last 30 years.

Procedures such as hysteroscopic endometrial ablation (without hysterectomy) for menorrhagia and uterine artery embolization for fibroids have reduced the frequency of hysterectomies that was reported at the end of the 20th century. However, it is estimated that 50% of women over the age of 45 in Europe and Asia have undergone hysterectomy.

The main focus of this special issue is to describe the various current methods for hysterectomies, such as resecting the uterus in cases of benign and malignant alterations, as well as the modern 1st and 2nd generation uterine preservation techniques.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Laparoscopic hysterectomies
• Vaginal hysterectomy and new trends with natural orifice surgery (NOS)
• Abdominal hysterectomy
• Radical conventional and laparoscopic hysterectomy and laparoscopic exenteration
• Hysteroscopic endometrial ablation and 2nd generation techniques

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