The descriptive epidemiology of hysterectomy, Province of Quebec, 1981-1988

This study reports the descriptive epidemiology of hysterectomy in the Province of Quebec, Canada, from 1981 to 1988. Data on hysterectomies (n = 150,849) among women 15 years and older were obtained from MED-ECHO, a computerized database of hospital discharge summaries. Hysterectomy rates were established, with denominators consisting of the estimated female populations with a uterus. From 1981 to 1988, the age-adjusted rate for hysterectomy declined from 100.4 to 67.4 per 10,000 women with a uterus. Curves representing age-specific rates of hysterectomy revealed a consistent bimodal pattern over time, a first peak occurring in women aged 40 to 44 years, and a second in women aged 65 to 69. Hysterectomy rates for elective conditions such as leiomyoma, endometriosis, disorders of menstruation, and prolapse decreased consistently over time. The proportion of women who had a hysterectomy and simultaneous bilateral oophorectomy declined from 35% in 1981 to 30% in 1988. Despite the substantial decline in the frequency of hysterectomy over the 8-year period, at rates prevailing in 1988, three of ten women would have had a hysterectomy by the age of 60.