• National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2021) reports a 3.3% hysterectomy rate among women aged 30-39 years across India, with Andhra Pradesh showing the highest rate at 8.7%.

The most common reason for undergoing a hysterectomy in India is heavy menstrual bleeding. Preserve the Uterus is a nationwide campaign that was launched in April 2022 by Bayer's Pharma division in collaboration with the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI). The initiative is to drive awareness about the negative impact of unnecessary hysterectomies in India. The PTU Centres of Excellence in Vizag are a first-of-its-kind in the country. The first-ever training session in Vizag provided healthcare professionals with knowledge on effective, non-surgical treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding. This program aims to enhance patient care and offer alternatives to unnecessary surgical procedures.

Shweta Rai, Managing Director India and Country Division Head South Asia, Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division, said, “Our initiative, Preserve the Uterus, has made a significant difference over the years in educating doctors and letting women know that there are alternative methods available to treat heavy menstrual bleeding while also preserving the quality of their lives. We, at Bayer laud the efforts of the Andhra Pradesh Government at taking up this challenge, that affects everyone in the community. We are confident this private public partnership will shine a light on this significant health challenge.”

In recent years, hysterectomies have gained attention in India’s health policy due to high prevalence. The National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2021) shows that the rate of hysterectomy in women across India aged 30-39 years is 3.3%, with the highest rate of 8.7% observed in Andhra Pradesh (1). This procedure not only raises healthcare costs but can also lead to long-term co-morbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes, bone pain and high cholesterol. Hysterectomy at a younger age is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and osteoporosis and also affects the mental health of women.

Dr. P. Sivananda, Superintendent, King George Hospital said, The “Preserve The Uterus” training sessions are an important initiative to bring down the rate of unnecessary hysterectomies in Andhra Pradesh and improve women’s health. The Centres of Excellence established in partnership with Bayer Pharmaceuticals are a first in the country and we are elated to be taking the lead in addressing this health challenge. The trainings will be beneficial to upskill healthcare professionals so that a hysterectomy becomes the last option to treat conditions such as heavy menstrual bleeding. We are optimistic that this program will lead to better health outcomes for women in our state, and benefit our communities in general.”

Dr. Priyankur Roy, Chairperson of the Public Awareness Committee of FOGSI, said, “The PTU training sessions offer a valuable opportunity for healthcare professionals to learn about the benefits of LNG IUS and other options for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. This program is a step towards providing patients with effective alternatives to hysterectomy and improving overall patient care.”

Expressing his views on the occasion, Dr. Jaydeep Tank, President of FOGSI, emphasized the organization's commitment. "We are dedicated to reducing unnecessary hysterectomies and promoting superior healthcare practices. Collaborating with Bayer and the Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare - Government of Andhra Pradesh, we aim to take this initiative to preserve the uterus and enhance women's health. Increased awareness will help eliminate related taboos and support doctors in managing various gynaecological disorders," he said.

Furthermore, Dr. Sandhya Devi, HOD - Gynaec Dept., King George Hospital said, “Being named as the first Center of Excellence for the PTU program is a significant achievement for our hospital. This program will support our efforts to offer effective treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding and address a key health issue in our community. We are committed to providing our medical professionals with the latest trainings and share our learnings with the larger healthcare community so that more women can benefit from this outreach.” 

The PTU training sessions included detailed instructions on the use of LNG IUS and other treatment options, covering techniques for insertion, patient selection criteria, and counselling strategies. Dr. Priyankur Roy and Dr. Sai Lakshmi, a gynaecologist and onco-gynaecologist, led the sessions. The Centres of Excellence for PTU at King George Hospital will provide additional resources for ongoing education and support for healthcare professionals.

This program represents a significant effort to advance women’s health in Vizag and lays the groundwork for expanding this initiative to other states through future government partnerships and training programs for improvements in patient care.

About Women’s Healthcare at Bayer

Bayer is a recognized leader in women’s healthcare, with a long-standing commitment to delivering science for a better life by advancing a portfolio of innovative treatments. Bayer offers a wide range of effective short- and long-acting birth control methods as well as therapies for menopause management and gynecological diseases. Bayer is also focusing on innovative options to address the unmet medical needs of women worldwide. Today, Bayer’s research and development efforts focus on finding new treatment options for menopause as well as gynecological diseases and includes several compounds in various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development. Together, these projects reflect the company’s approach to research, which prioritizes targets and pathways with the potential to alter the way that gynecological diseases are treated. Additionally, Bayer intends to provide 100 million women in low-and-middle income countries by 2030 with access to family planning by funding multi-stakeholder aid programs and by ensuring the supply of affordable modern contraceptives. This is part of the comprehensive sustainability measures and commitments from 2020 onwards and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 47.6 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

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