Hysterectomy for Benign Uterine Disease.

Hysterectomy is the second most common operation in obstetrics and gynecology after Cesarean section. Until now, there has not been any German clinical guideline with recommendations concerning the indications for hysterectomy for benign uterine conditions, in consideration of the available uterus-preserving alternative treatments.

We systematically searched the Medline database in 2013, in 2014, and in December 2015, focusing on aggregate evidence, and assessed the retrieved literature. The guideline recommendations were developed by a consensus process with structured independent moderation.

30 systematic reviews and 8 randomized controlled trials were analyzed. Among the study patients treated with either hysterectomy (by any technique) or an organ-preserving alternative, at least 75�94% were satisfied with their treatment. Vaginal hysterectomy was associated with lower complication rates, shorter procedure duration, and more rapid recovery than abdominal hysterectomy and is therefore the preferred technique. If vaginal hysterectomy is not possible, a laparoscopic approach should be considered. Abdominal hysterectomy should be reserved for special indications. In 2012, the frequency of abdominal hysterectomy in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland was lower than elsewhere in the world, at 15.7%, 28.0%, and 23.9%, respectively. Uterus-preserving techniques were associated with higher re-intervention rates compared to hysterectomy (11�36% vs 4−10%).

The main objective is to reduce the frequency of abdominal hysterectomy. Patients should be counseled and made aware of uterus-sparing alternatives to hysterectomy so that they are able to make informed decisions. Hysterectomy is the second most common surgical procedure in gynecology, second only to Cesarean section. In Germany, the hysterectomy rates range between 2.13/1000 and 3.62/1000 person-years (PY), while in the United States it is 5.4/1000 PY (1, 2). Over the last 10 to 20 years, the number of hysterectomies performed has consistently declined worldwide (3). Uterine fibroids, endometriosis as well as functional disorders can cause abnormal uterine bleeding which may lead to anemia. Anemia may, in turn, impair work capacity and quality of life. In addition, sexual health may be significantly affected. Until 1989, the only surgical approaches for hysterectomy were vaginal and abdominal hysterectomy; then in the early 1990s, three laparoscopic techniques were developed: - Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) (4) - Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) (5) - Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LASH) (6, 7). The aim of laparoscopic approaches was to avoid the morbidity associated with abdominal incision. While this goal was generally achieved in most countries, Germany, Austria and Switzerland performed well, with abdominal hysterectomy rates in 2012 of 15.7% (3), 28.0% (8) and 23.9% (9), respectively. In comparison, the rate of abdominal hysterectomy in the United States in 2012 was 56% (2). Within 15 to 20 years of their introduction, laparoscopic hysterectomy procedures had found worldwide acceptance and the first Cochrane review comparing the various surgical approaches to hysterectomy was performed (10). In an attempt to clearly define and distinguish the areas of indication for each method and to optimize indications, the German Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (DGGG, Deutsche Gesellschaft f�r Gyn�kologie und Geburtshilfe) initiated the preparation of the guideline �Indications and Methods of Hysterectomy for Benign Gynecological Disease�. At the same time, uterus-preserving techniques to treat benign uterine disease were developed, most of them based on minimally invasive surgery. These were also included in the guideline.

Guideline development The guideline was developed by a representative group of 26 clinical researchers as a consensus-based S2k guideline, initially (eBox). All members of the guideline consensus group declared potential conflicts of interest in writing; the procedure is documented in the guideline report. In three consensus conferences hosted by Prof. K. Schwerdtfeger as an independent AWMF guideline advisor (AWMF, Association of Scientific Medical Societies in Germany), recommendations were formulated and agreed upon (consensus if >75% of participants agreed) after careful consideration of the potential risks and benefits of the various treatment options. Three grades of recommendation were distinguished which can be identified by the use of the words �shall�, �should� and �can�. After an updated systematic literature search and evaluation had become available (11), these recommendations were verified and confirmed, with only few, unanimously approved, changes. The final guideline was a Level 3 (clinical practice) guideline (Tables 1, 2). Literature search and evidence rating Pertinent randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews/meta-analyses published between 1990 and 11/2011 were retrieved by an initial systematic literature search in the databases Medline, Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Specialized Register, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). A systematic literature search in the PubMed database was conducted for the period 2013/2014 to retrieve updated information on the following topics: - Comparison of surgical approaches to hysterectomy - Comparisons of hysterectomy versus uterine artery embolization or fibroid enucleation in patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids. - Comparisons of hysterectomy versus pharmacotherapy or endometrial ablation in patients with fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding or adenomyosis. A literature search was performed in December 2015 to update the initially retrieved information, but did not identify any new randomized trials (see eTable for search strategies and inclusion criteria; see eFigure for flowchart). Evidence levels were determined using the 2009 Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine�Levels of Evidence document (12). All studies finally included based on title, abstract, and full-text screening�preferably systematic reviews and meta-analyses�were rated with regard to their quality.

Hysterectomy for fibroids According to German external hospital quality assurance data, approximately 60% of hysterectomies were performed to treat uterine fibroids (3). The decision whether it is possible to perform uterus-preserving surgery has to be made on a case-by-case basis. No absolute threshold values with regard to size or number of fibroids are available to help with decision making (13). Women with symptoms who do not want to preserve fertility and do not respond to conservative treatment may benefit from hysterectomy. The Maine Women�s Health Study (1994) found that in the presence of moderate, non-life-threatening symptoms, 72% of the women who underwent hysterectomy felt much better, 16% better and 3% worse after surgery compared with the preoperative situation (14). All studies comparing hysterectomy with uterus-preserving interventions in patients with symptomatic fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding, or adenomyosis found statistically significant improvements in symptoms, quality of life, and treatment satisfaction were shown for both treatment groups (15�17). The quality of some of the included randomized studies was limited by lack of blinding of analysis, lack of information about blinded group assignment, heterogeneity of the tools used to measure quality of life, and wide confidence intervals due to small sample sizes. In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning that if morcellators are used to divide tissue into smaller pieces in women with unsuspected uterine sarcoma, there is a risk that the procedure will spread the cancerous tissue (18). In a position paper, the DGGG pointed out that uterine sarcomas are rare. It recommends to make decisions on a case-by-case basis after in-depth discussion of the benefits and risks of minimally invasive hysterectomy, especially if morcellation is required (19). A meta-analysis performed in 2015 found that the prevalence of leiomyosarcoma is only 1 in 2000 procedures, while the FDA believed the prevalence of unsuspected uterine leiomyosarcoma to be 1 in 498 (20). The discussion on uterine artery embolization and fertility outcomes is ongoing. Alternatives to hysterectomy in the treatment of fibroids Surgical treatment options Depending on their location, size and number, fibroids can be removed using hysteroscopic, laparoscopic, and laparoscopically assisted or (mini) laparotomy-based procedures. Myomectomy is currently considered to be the only sufficiently studied, organ-preserving treatment option for women who want to preserve fertility. No randomized controlled trial comparing fibroid enucleation techniques with hysterectomy was identified. Hysteroscopic myomectomy Intracavitary fibroids can be treated with hysteroscopic myomectomy. According to follow-up data from small cohort studies, hysteroscopic myomectomy improves abnormal uterine bleeding in 70 to 90% of cases (21). Abdominal myomectomy A large uterus with numerous fibroids and/or very large deep intramural or transmural fibroids may require an abdominal incision to provide adequate access. Even though most of the clinically relevant fibroids are usually removed during an open procedure, ultrasonographic follow-up over a period of up to 5 years found that fibroids recurred in 23 to 50% of patients (22). Laparoscopic myomectomy Advantages of minimally invasive procedures over open abdominal surgery have been clinically demonstrated. In a small randomized controlled trial of moderate quality, 85% of patients (17/20) did not require pain medication 72 hours after laparoscopic surgery compared with 15% (3/20) of patients after abdominal myomectomy (relative risk reduction [RR] 5.7; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.0; 16.4). Another randomized controlled trial of moderate quality found lower pain levels at 24, 48 and 72 hours postoperatively in patients after laparoscopic surgery compared with abdominal surgery (2.28 versus 4.03 units on a visual scale). The mean length of hospital stay was 76 hours after laparoscopic myomectomy compared with 142 hours after abdominal myomectomy (95% CI not stated; p<0.001; level of evidence [LoE] 1b). Meta-analyses are not available (23). In a multicenter study, 52.9% of patients experienced fibroid recurrence 5 years and 84.4% 8 years after laparoscopic myomectomy (LoE 1b) (13). Uterine artery embolization (UAE) as an alternative to hysterectomy Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is an alternative to surgical treatment options in women wishing to preserve their uterus (24). The discussion whether uterine artery embolization is an option for women desiring future fertility is ongoing (15). Five smaller randomized controlled trials of moderate quality compared uterine artery embolization with hysterectomy (LoE 1a) (15). Patient satisfaction was high for both interventions (after 2 years, 79% in patients with uterine artery embolization and 81% in patients with hysterectomy; both p>0.1). Symptom improvement after 2 and 5 years was 82% and 76%, respectively, for uterine artery embolization and after 2 years 93% for hysterectomy; the difference was not statistically significant. Five years after the initial intervention, the reintervention rate was significantly higher (28�32%) after UAE than after hysterectomy (4�10%). No significant differences were found with regard to complication rates. Complications reported after uterine artery embolization were usually �mild� in nature, while complications after hysterectomy were mainly classed as �severe�; heterogeneous definitions with regard to complications were used in the various studies (15). Acupuncture A Cochrane analysis of acupuncture in patients with symptomatic fibroids did not find any controlled trial evaluating symptom improvement (25). Treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding Provided focal abnormalities have been ruled out as cause of bleeding, hysterectomy is a therapeutic option for the definitive treatment of abnormal (dysfunctional) uterine bleeding. In Germany, 25% of benign hysterectomies were performed in 2012 for abnormal uterine bleeding (3). Hysterectomy competes with medical approaches and interventions for endometrial destruction and resection. Systematic reviews identified eight randomized controlled trials comparing endometrial ablation with hysterectomy, with a total of 1280 patients (LoE 1a) (16). Endometrial ablation does not achieve the same definitive reduction in bleeding as hysterectomy (RR 0.89; 95% CI [0.85; 0.93]; 4 studies, n = 650). At several points in time, reintervention rates were found increased by 11 to 36% (after 1 to 4 years) for endometrial ablation versus hysterectomy. Complications are rare and limited to perforation of the uterine wall and absorption of the distention medium into the bloodstream. The rate of short-term complications is significantly higher for hysterectomy. No differences were found with regard to quality of life for any of the results, obtained with various instruments (16). Treatment satisfaction after one year was high for both interventions: 82% after hysterectomy and 77% after endometrial resection (odds ratio [OR] 0.94; 95% CI: [0.88; 1.0]; data from 4 studies, n = 739). Drug therapy In some studies, bleeding severity was reduced by about 40% using oral contraceptives (OCs) (26). For progesterone administration over 21 days, from day 5 to day 26 of the menstrual cycle, a significant reduction in menstrual blood loss was shown. The Practice Bulletin no. 110 of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) highlights that within a period of 10 years 46% of the patients in the medical treatment arms of the studies underwent surgery (26). Hysterectomy is the most effective method to end abnormal uterine bleeding. Comparisons of the satisfaction rates and quality of life achieved with the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), organ-preserving surgery, and hysterectomy found no significant differences between the three treatment approaches after one year (27). Levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) Studies have shown that LNG-IUS is more effective than cyclical norethisterone for 21 days. Furthermore, compliance was significantly better with LNG-IUS treatment (28). In the only randomized comparative study with 5-year follow-up, Hurskainenen et al. (29) found no differences between primary hysterectomy and LNG-IUS with regard to quality-of-life scores and psychological scores, even though 42% of the patients treated with LNG-IUS later underwent hysterectomy. Treatment satisfaction was 94% in the group with primary hysterectomy (30). Uterine adenomyosis Alternatives to hysterectomy for the treatment of symptomatic adenomyosis include systemic treatment with gestagens or oral contraceptives in a long-cycle or long-term regimen (31). With regard to the comparison of LNG-IUS versus hysterectomy, a small randomized controlled trial was identified. After one year, the amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea rate in patients treated with LNG-IUS was 87% (17) (LoE 1b−). In women who do not want to preserve fertility, hysterectomy is the most effective treatment of symptomatic adenomyosis. Adenomyosis is suspected based on presenting symptoms, imaging findings and pregnancy history. The definite diagnosis is ultimately established by histopathological examination of the hysterectomy specimen. Uterine prolapse and hysterectomy For decades, hysterectomy was part of the surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. A French working group found in the multivariate analysis of data from two retrospective multicenter trials with 684 and 277 patients, respectively, (32) that simultaneously performed hysterectomy significantly increased the rate of mesh-related local erosions at the vaginal vault (OR 5.17). Uterus preservation is a protective factor in this respect (OR 0.263; 95% CI: [0.112; 0.621]). So far, no convincing evidence exists that hysterectomy lowers the recurrence risk after pelvic organ prolapse surgery. However, it has also not been proven that uterus preservation has no negative impact on recurrence risk in the long term (33). Urinary incontinence and hysterectomy Hysterectomy is not a surgical procedure to treat incontinence. It may be beneficial in patients with large fibroids and overactive bladder (34), but, as yet, this has not been proven by well-designed studies. Comparison of hysterectomy techniques Surgical approaches for hysterectomy have been compared in numerous publications, including two systematic reviews, one review based on recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (35), and one Cochrane review, last updated in 2015 (36) (LoE 1a). Nieboer et al. analyzed 34 randomized controlled trials with a total of 4495 patients (10). In the NICE publication, the analysis additionally included controlled studies involving 37 049 women. These analyses consistently found the lowest costs and the lowest complication rate for vaginal hysterectomy, followed by laparoscopic procedures. Therefore, abdominal hysterectomy should only be performed if there is a special indication for it. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has issued similar recommendations (37). Hysterectomy and the subsequent resolution of symptoms frequently leads to improvements in sexual health, in the form of an increase in the frequency of sexual intercourse and a patient-experienced global improvement of sexual health (38, 39). In this respect, short-term advantages for vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomy techniques can also be identified; however, after 12 months these can no longer be demonstrated. Complication data for Germany In Germany, the 2012 national analysis of external hospital care quality assurance data, 15/1�Gynecological Operations, is available for approximately 103 000 hysterectomies performed for benign indications (3). The rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications were 1.4% and 4.0%, respectively; consequently, the total complication rate was 5.4%. In 2012, the conversion rate for vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomies in Germany (2.0%) was markedly below the 7% found in the aggregated evidence (10, 36).

and conclusions Both hysterectomy and uterus-preserving methods are available to treat benign uterine conditions. Women differ with regard to the distress they experience, their life situation, and their plans for the future. Frequently, women have already decided which treatment they want. They expect that the gynecologist evaluates the underlying condition and informs them about the various options available. For this end, the evidence base supporting the benefits and risks of the various methods should be explained and patients should be asked about their views. Ideally, these women can then decide for themselves which therapeutic option suits them best. This approach is commonly referred to as shared decision making (40). As an aid to physicians and patients, algorithms have been developed for the main indication groups, presenting the various treatment options at a glance (Figure). In our experience, these are worthwhile and appreciated by patients. Further research is required to enhance our understanding of adequate communication and individualized advice. In 2013, hysterectomy was removed from the German quality assurance program. In view of the fact that hysterectomy and corresponding treatment alternatives are frequently performed interventions, it is desirable to reintegrate hysterectomy in a continuous monitoring program; in many European countries and in the United States this is the case. Such a monitoring program should also be developed for alternative treatment approaches. Since many of the interventions are performed on an outpatient basis, a cross-sectoral survey will be required which should also cover the aspects of quality of information and communication. In addition, data collected in this setting could show whether and how the algorithms developed in this guideline are applied in clinical practice. Conflict of interest statement Prof. Neis is Scientific Director of a research center (ETC) for operative, especially endoscopic surgery which is supported by Storz and Erbe. Dr. Zubke has received reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses and fees for the preparation of continuing medical education events from Erbe. Prof. R�mer has received consultancy fees from Bayer and Gedeon Richter. He has also received reimbursement of participation fees, travel and accommodation expenses as well as fees for the preparation of continuing medical education events from Bayer, Hologic and Gedeon Richter. Prof. Tamussino has received reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses from Covidien. Dr. Nothacker is author of the evidence report commissioned and financed by the German Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (DGGG, Deutsche Gesellschaft f�r Gyn�kologie und Geburtshilfe). Dr. Fehr declares that no conflict of interests exists. Manuscript received on 13 January 2016, revised version accepted on 10 February 2016 Translated from the original German by Ralf Thoene, MD. Corresponding author Prof. Dr. med. Klaus J. Neis Klinik f�r Frauenheilkunde, Geburtshilfe und Reproduktionsmedizin der Universit�tskliniken des Saarlandes Kirrbergerstr. 100 66424 Homburg, Germany [email protected] @Supplementary material eTable, eFigure, eBox: www.aerzteblatt-international.de/16m0242 of- life and sexual- function outcomes after laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) versus total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH): a prospective, questionnaire-based follow-up study in 915 patients. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2014; 290: 1141�9 CrossRef MEDLINE Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, T�bingen University Hospital, Germany: PD Dr. med. Zubke Cantonal Hospital, Frauenfeld, Switzerland: PD Dr. med. Fehr Evangelisches Krankenhaus, K�ln-Weyertal, Germany: Prof. Dr. med. R�mer Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Austria: Prof. Dr. med. Tamussino AWMF Institute of Medical Knowledge Management, c/o Philipps University Marburg, Germany: Dr. med. Monika Nothacker MPH | 1. | Stang A, Merrill RM, Kuss O: Hysterectomy in Germany: a DRG-based nationwide analysis, 2005�2006. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2011; 108: 508�14 VOLLTEXT | | 2. | Cohen SL, Vitonis AF, Einarsson JI: Updated hysterectomy surveillance and factors associated with minimally invasive hysterectomy. JSLS 2014; 18 (3): pii: e2014.00096. | | 3. | AQUA: Institut f�r angewandte Qualit�tsf�rderung und Forschung im Gesundheitswesen GmbH, Bundesauswertung zum Verfahrensjahr 2012 15/1, Gyn�kologische Operationen, 2013. www.sqg.de/downloads/Bundesauswertungen/2012/bu_Gesamt_15N1-GYN-OP_2012.pdf (last accessed on 11 February 2016). | | 4. | Reich H: Total laparoscopic hysterectomy: indications, techniques and outcomes. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2007; 19: 337�44 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 5. | Neis KJ, Ulrich K, Zeilmann W, Brandner P: Die laparoskopisch-assistierte vaginale Hysterektomie. Der Frauenarzt 1993; 34: 1091�6. | | 6. | Donnez J, Nisolle M: Laparoscopic supracervical (subtotal) hysterectomy (LASH). J Gynecol Surg 1993; 9: 91�4 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 7. | Semm K, Mettler L: Technical progress in pelvic surgery via operative laparoscopy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1980; 138: 121�7 MEDLINE | | 8. | Statistik Austria: Station�re Aufenthalte, Gesundheit Austria. www.statistik.at/web_de/statistiken/menschen_und_gesellschaft/gesundheit/stationaere_aufenthalte/medizinische_leistungen/index.html (last accessed on 11 January 2016). | | 9. | ASF, Arbeitsgemeinschaft Schweizer Frauen�rzte, www.sevisa.ch/ (last accessed on 11 January 2016). | | 10. | Nieboer TE, Johnson N, Lethaby A, et al.: Surgical approach to hysterectomy for benign gynaecological disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009; 3: CD003677 CrossRef | | 11. | Nothacker M, Neis F, Schwerdtfeger K: Indikation und Methodik der Hysterektomie bei benignen Erkrankungen � Evidenzbericht, 2014. www.awmf.org/uploads/tx_szleitlinien/015�070e_S3_Indikation_und_Methodik_der_Hysterektomie_2015�07.pdf (last accessed on 11 January 2016). | | 12. | Oxford Center for Evidence Based Medicine, L.o.E., Oxford 2009. March 2009. www.cebm.net/oxford-centre-evidence-based-medicine-levels-evidence-march-2009/ (last accessed on 11 January 2016). | | 13. | Yoo EH, Lee PI, Huh CY, et al.: Predictors of leiomyoma recurrence after laparoscopic myomectomy. J Minim Invasive Gynecol 2007; 14: 690�7 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 14. | Carlson KJ, Miller BA, Fowler FJ Jr.: The Maine Women�s Health Study: Outcomes of hysterectomy. Obstet Gynecol 1994; 83: 556�65 CrossRef CrossRef MEDLINE | | 15. | Gupta JK, Sinha A, Lumsden MA, Hickey M: Uterine artery embolization for symptomatic uterine fibroids. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014; 12: CD005073 CrossRef | | 16. | Fergusson RJ, Lethaby A, Shepperd S, Farquhar C: Endometrial resection and ablation versus hysterectomy for heavy menstrual bleeding. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013; 11: CD000329 CrossRef | | 17. | Ozdegirmenci O, Kayikcioglu F, Akglu MA, et al.: Comparison of levonorgestrel intrauterine system versus hysterectomy on efficacy and quality of life in patients with adenomyosis. Fertil Steril 2011; 95: 497�502 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 18. | Food and Drugs Administration: Laparoscopic uterine power morcellation in hysterectomy and myomectomy: FDA safety communication. www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm393576.htm (last accessed on 8 March 2016). | | 19. | Beckmann MW, Juhasz-B�ss I, Denschlag D, et al.: Surgical methods for the treatment of uterine fibroids�risk of uterine sarcoma and problems of morcellation: Position paper of the DGGG. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2015; 75: 148�64 CrossRef MEDLINE PubMed Central | | 20. | Pritts EA, Vanness DJ, Berek JS, et al.: The prevalence of occult leiomyosarcoma at surgery for presumed uterine fibroids: a meta-analysis. Gynecol Surg 2015; 12: 165�77 CrossRef MEDLINE PubMed Central | | 21. | Parker WH: Uterine myomas: management. Fertil Steril 2007; 88: 255�71 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 22. | Palomba S, Zupi E, Russo T, et al.: A multicenter randomized, controlled study comparing laparoscopic versus minilaparotomic myomectomy: short-term outcomes. Fertil Steril 2007; 88: 942�51 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 23. | Lethaby A, Vollenhoven B: Fibroids (uterine myomatosis, leiomyomas). Clin Evid 2011. www.researchgate.net/profile/Beverley_Vollenhoven/publication/7160747_Fibroids_%28uterine_myomatosis_leiomyomas%29/links/53d592990cf2a7fbb2ea5b0b.pdf (last accessed on 11 January 2016). | | 24. | Bradley LD: Uterine fibroid embolization: a viable alternative to hysterectomy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009; 201: 127�35 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 25. | Zhang Y, Peng W, Clarke J, Liu Z: Acupuncture for uterine fibroids. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010; 1: CD007221 CrossRef | | 26. | ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 110: Noncontraceptive uses of hormonal contraceptives. Obstet Gynecol 2010; 115: 206�18 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 27. | A randomised trial of endometrial ablation versus hysterectomy for the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding: outcome at four years. Aberdeen Endometrial Ablation Trials Group. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1999; 106: 360�6 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 28. | Lethaby AE, Cooke I, Rees M: Progesterone or progestogen-releasing intrauterine systems for heavy menstrual bleeding. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005; 4: CD002126 CrossRef | | 29. | Hurskainen R, Teperi J, Rissanen P, et al.: Clinical outcomes and costs with the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system or hysterectomy for treatment of menorrhagia: randomized trial 5-year follow-up. JAMA 2004; 291: 1456�63 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 30. | Heliovaara-Peippo S, Hurskainen R, Teperi J, et al.: Quality of life and costs of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system or hysterectomy in the treatment of menorrhagia: a 10-year randomized controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2013; 209: 535.e1�535.e14 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 31. | Guideline of the German Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Endometriose: Diagnostik und Therapie (S2k). AWMF Registry No. 015/045 2013. www.awmf.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Leitlinien/015_D_Ges_fuer_Gynaekologie_und_Geburtshilfe/015�045ek _S2k_Diagnostik_Therapie_Endometriose_ 2013�10.pdf (last accessed on 11 January 2016). | | 32. | Caquant F, Collinet P, Debodinance P, et al.: Safety of trans vaginal mesh procedure: retrospective study of 684 patients. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2008; 34: 449�56 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 33. | Guideline of the German Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics: De-census genitalis. Register Nr. 015/006. http://www.awmf.org/leitlinien/detail/anmeldung/1/ll/015�006.html. In progress, estimated completion date May 2016 (last accessed on 20. April 2016). | | 34. | Darai E, Jeffry L, Deval B, Birsan A, Kadoch O, Soriano D: Results of tension-free vaginal tape in patients with or without vaginal hysterectomy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2002; 103: 163�7 CrossRef | | 35. | National Institute for Health an Clinical Exellence: Interventional procedure overview of laparoscopic techniques for hysterectomy. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg239/evidence/overview-309106333 (last accessed on 11 January 2016). | | 36. | Aarts JW, Nieboer TE, Johnson N, et al.: Surgical approach to hysterectomy for benign gynaecological disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015; 8: CD003677 CrossRef | | 37. | ACOG Committee, Opinion No. 444: Choosing the route of hysterectomy for benign disease. Obstet Gynecol 2009; 114: 1156�8 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 38. | Radosa JC, Meyberg-Solomayer G, Kastl C, et al.: Influences of different hysterectomy techniques on patients� postoperative sexual function and quality of life. J Sex Med 2014; 11: 2342�50 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 39. | Brucker SY, Taran FA, Bogdanyova S, et al.: Patient-reported quality- of- life and sexual- function outcomes after laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) versus total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH): a prospective, questionnaire-based follow-up study in 915 patients. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2014; 290: 1141�9 CrossRef MEDLINE | | 40. | Harter M, Buchholz A, Nicolai J, et al.: Shared decision making and the use of decision aids�A cluster-randomized study on the efficacy of a training in an oncology setting. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2015; 112: 672�9 VOLLTEXT |