This document discusses different types of hysterectomies including vaginal hysterectomy (VH), laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), and abdominal hysterectomy (AH). It summarizes various studies that show rates of different hysterectomy methods varying between countries and over time. For example, one UK study from 1998 found AH was performed 74% of the time while a US study from around the same time found VH was performed 89% of the time. The document concludes that while LAVH may be appealing, it should not replace VH when VH is possible, and the overall aim should be to decrease rates of morbid AH procedures worldwide.