For many women, the uterus or the womb is so much more than its physical existence — from providing a sense of self, gender identity and sexual attractiveness to cultural associations with desirability, the uterus's role in the ability to procreate can often lead to powerful emotional attachment. Hysterectomy (the partial or complete surgical removal of the uterus) is one of the most common gynaecological surgeries performed around the world.

However, the resultant physical and emotional impact on women undergoing the procedure is rarely discussed. Take for example, internationally acclaimed musician Anoushka Shankar's recent post about undergoing a double hysterectomy, where she explains why she decided to go under the knife (she was diagnosed with 13 tumours) and that it was a difficult choice to make. "When I found out… that I needed to have my uterus taken out, I went into short-term depression. The news triggered fears about my womanliness, my possible desire to have more children in the future, the fear of dying in surgery and leaving my kids without a mother, the effect the changes may have on my sex life and more," she writes. Experts, and readers who have undergone the process answer some of the most pertinent questions that women may have about hysterectomy.