BOSTON -- One in five women will have a hysterectomy, and there is growing concern among experts that unless there is cancer involved, most of these surgeries may not be necessary.

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Video Report RESOURCES Hysterectomy Alternatives More On Myomectomies

New statistics suggest that despite a number of new, less invasive alternatives, the number of hysterectomies in the United States is on the rise.

When she was just 30, Margaret Johns, a busy investment banker, had a routine exam that revealed uterine fibroids. She had no symptoms, yet her doctor said the problem was so severe she might need a hysterectomy.

"I just think that is such an important part of your body for obviously many, many reasons that are central to everyday life, as well as being a woman. That just wasn't going to happen," said Johns.

She instead looked to other options and decided on a myomectomy, a procedure that removes only the fibroids and not the uterus.

But despite a growing number of alternatives for women who have fibroids or severe menstrual bleeding, the number of hysterectomies rose from a rate of 42.9 per 10,000 women in 1995 to a rate of 44.8 in 2001.

Dr. Elizabeth Ginsburg said the numbers suggest physicians aren't yet comfortable with the newer procedures.

"I think physicians have a lot more experience with hysterectomies because of the people who trained them, trained doing them, so it's a passed-on learning style," said Ginsburg.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology insists hysterectomy is the only cure for fibroids. And even advocates of myomectomy admit it's not fool-proof.

"If you have a young women with multiple fibroids, the risks are relatively high, maybe 30 percent, that the fibroids are going to grow back, and they may require her to need additional surgery later on," said Ginsburg.

Ginsburg said women should ask their doctors if there is an appropriate alternative to a hysterectomy, and then ask for a referral to someone skilled in that alternative. If women don't trust the answers they receive from their doctors, they should get a second opinion.

"Don't do it unless you become 100 percent, 1,000 percent certain that you absolutely need it," said Ginsburg.