Women's subjective experience of hysterectomy

This paper presents data on the experience of hysterectomy from a sample of 656 women aged between 30 and 50 years recruited from patients of a random sample of 50 general practices in Perth. Respondents were identified as women who: had undergone hysterectomy for reasons other than cancer; were affected by gynaecological conditions; had neither gynaecological problems nor had undergone hysterectomy. Respondents voluntarily completed a self-administered questionnaire which covered demographic information, general health, gynaecological problems and hysterectomy, sexual activities, and family relationships. Formal measures of depression and self-esteem were included. The main concern was with the psychological and social outcomes of hysterectomy rather than its physical results. The findings showed that of 107 women who had undergone hysterectomy, only two had negative comments about the outcome. There were significant effects on both work and sexual relationships for women in the gynaecological condition group, with 52 per cent reporting adverse effects on work and 46 per cent believing that their sexuality was affected. Few women regarded the uterus as 'essential to femininity or womanhood' and very few saw it as affecting sexuality. Women in the hysterectomy group reported that their satisfaction with sexual activity had improved, whereas those with gynaecological conditions believed that it had deteriorated. Depression and self-esteem scores were significantly worse for women with gynaecological conditions.