The focus of this research database is on how stress affects women's health,

and options for treatment using mind-body therapies. 

If you are not a health care professional, see new "Medical Glossary" below.  

To obtain full summaries of the articles, see "How to Get Abstracts" below. 

Rate of hysterectomy was 5.6 per 1000 women in 1997. Abdominal cases were 63%, laparoscopic hysterectomy 9.9%, and vaginal 27.1%. The most common indication was fibroids. Alternative bleeding control techniques such as endometrial ablation had not yet made any inroads.

2002 Obstet Gynecol 99;2:229-34

Farquhar, C. M. and Steiner, C. A.

7830667 JA

In this random phone interview of 2000 Australian women, 22% had had a hysterectomy, and of these 21% had had one ovary removed, and 20% both. Mean age at hysterectomy was 40.4 years. Hormone replacement therapy was used by 49% of women with both ovaries removed, 31% of other hysterectomized women, and 17% of women without hysterectomy.

1994 Med J Aust 161;5:311-3

Dennerstein, L., Shelley, J., Smith, A. M., and Ryan, M.

11724196 JA

Focus group was interviewed on how they had gone about deciding to have a hysterectomy. Sequential themes emerged of: 1) seeking solutions--information gathering and processing, utilizing pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments; 2) holding on--managing symptoms and rearranging daily living activities to accommodate symptoms; 3) changing course--focusing on hysterectomy as the solution; and 4) taking charge--purposeful actions to arrange and prepare for surgery.

2001 J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 30;6:607-16

Lindberg, C. E. and Nolan, L. B.

9314713 JA

In conversations between British patients and gynecologists that led to hysterectomy, the framework of the discussion was dictated by the patient, who presented deteriorating symptoms and psychosocial distress and criticism of conservative treatments. Discussions that led to more conservative measures were led by the gynecologist, who established authority by emphasizing the ability to "look inside" to assess the situation.

1997 Psychosomatics 38;5:440-50

Marchant-Haycox, S. and Salmon, P.

10660275 JA

Detailed analysis of 102 Wisconsin women one year after hysterectomy, discussing what the women wished they had had in terms of care, information, support and outcomes. Important reading for all healthcare professionals involved with women contemplating hysterectomy.

2000 J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 29;1:33-42

Wade, J., Pletsch, P. K., Morgan, S. W., and Menting, S. A.

10714742 JA

Interviews with southern urban women who had had hysterectomies for benign reasons showed that physical, psychological and spiritual domains were important in making the decision for surgery, which was viewed as a last resort. Most were happy with their decision, but wished they had had more information beforehand for themselves and their male partners. African American women expressed difficulties with an extremely negative cultural male attitude toward hysterectomy--some women had not even told their new partners about the surgery.

2000 J Womens Health Gend Based Med 9 Suppl 2;S15-25

Williams, R. D. and Clark, A. J.

10714746 JA

In-depth interviews with Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic women who had had hysterectomies revealed overall that doctors did not take the time to explain issues related to menopause, hysterectomy and HRT. Most were satisfied with the surgery, but there were significant ethnic differences on certain issues. African American and white women mistrusted motives of providers for recommending surgery, citing financial interests. African American women also mentioned population control and genocide. Hispanic women generally trusted their providers, but felt care was more holistic and humanistic in Mexico. African American women would be unlikely to discuss questions with anyone other than the provider, while white women would talk to friends, and Hispanic women would talk to their husbands. All women felt that men in general had a negative view of hysterectomy, with African American women feeling their men were not supportive and the other groups feeling that their particular partners were.

2000 J Womens Health Gend Based Med 9 Suppl 2;S63-7

Galavotti, C. and Richter, D. L.

10714745 JA

Focus groups of South Carolinian women revealed that they perceived their male partners to be not well informed or knowledgeable about hysterectomy, and to be mainly concerned about the quality of sexual relations afterwards. Most women defined a limited role for men involving discussion and support/sympathy, but the women made the actual decision for themselves.

2000 J Womens Health Gend Based Med 9 Suppl 2;S51-61

Richter, D. L., McKeown, R. E., Corwin, S. J., Rheaume, C., and Fraser, J.

8819022 JA

Male partners of Swedish women having hysterectomy were mainly concerned with possible complications of the operation, and the diagnosis of cancer. Generally, men did not receive any information from medical staff before or afterwards. The majority of men felt that after hysterectomy there was a positive effect on sexual life and overall quality of life with their partners.

1996 J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 17;2:119-24

Lalos, A. and Lalos, O.

10711536 JA

For the vast majority of 1300 Maryland women, hysterectomy for benign conditions led to significant improvement in symptoms, psychologic function and quality of life. However a subset of 8% of women had at least as many symptoms two years later.

2000 Obstet Gynecol 95;3:319-26

Kjerulff, K. H., Langenberg, P. W., Rhodes, J. C., Harvey, L. A., Guzinski, G. M., and Stolley, P. D.

9313184 JA

Of 148 Texas women 11 months after hysterectomy, 93% agreed or strongly agreed that their sense of well-being had improved, 91% were pleased with having had the surgery, 85% were less irritable, and 66% felt their relationships with others had improved.

1997 J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 26;5:540-8

Lambden, M. P., Bellamy, G., Ogburn-Russell, L., Preece, C. K., Moore, S., Pepin, T., Croop, J., and Culbert, G.

11120508 JA

Of 1299 Maryland women who underwent hysterectomy and were followed for 24 months, 96% reported that the surgery had completely or mostly resolved their problems or symptoms, and 81.6% felt that their health was better than before surgery. The factor most strongly associated with patient report of negative outcome was readmission because of a post-discharge complication.

2000 Am J Obstet Gynecol 183;6:1440-7

Kjerulff, K. H., Rhodes, J. C., Langenberg, P. W., and Harvey, L. A.

9155934 R

Thorough review of previous studies on women's psychological relationship to hysterectomy. Although there are many conflicting results and conclusions, there are two common threads. One, that women having hysterectomies have higher rates of depression and anxiety preop than the rest of the population. It is not known whether the gynecologic symptoms cause these feelings, whether the gynecologic symptoms trigger or aggravate pre-existing psychological issues, or whether the psychological symptoms affect the body to cause dysfunctional bleeding, etc. Two, that those women who have significant sexual problems preop are at risk for sexual problems postop.

1997 Baillieres Clin Obstet Gynaecol 11;1:23-36

Ryan, M. M.

9689206 R,T

Incidence of depressed mood is high in women before hysterectomy, usually the effect of prolonged heavy periods or chronic pain. After surgery both symptoms and mood are improved. However, for some women with preexisting psychiatric illness, depressed mood may persist or occur with the stress of surgery.

1998 Menopause 5;2:113-22

Khastgir, G. and Studd, J.

8611783 RCT

204 Scottish women with dysfunctional uterine bleeding were randomly assigned to hysterectomy or endometrial ablation. In both groups, anxiety and depression that were present before the operation were significantly reduced. In both groups, 25% of women reported loss of sexual interest, and 27% of women reported increase in sexual interest.

1996 BMJ 312;7026:280-4

Alexander, D. A., Naji, A. A., Pinion, S. B., Mollison, J., Kitchener, H. C., Parkin, D. E., Abramovich, D. R., and Russell, I. T.

8777522 R,T

"Endometrial ablation offers a less invasive alternative to hysterectomy which may result in a better psychological outcome."

1996 Br J Hosp Med 55;5:289-94

Wright, J. B., Gannon, M. J., and Greenberg, M.

3969233 JA

18 Chinese patients who underwent emergency hysterectomy experienced post op fear, depression, anger, doubt, self reproach and multiple somatic complaints. Recovery was particularly difficult for those who were nonsymptomatic before the operation, those who still wanted to have more children, and those who lacked family support.

1985 Obstet Gynecol 65;2:206-10

Tang, G. W.

[Top]

10184560 JA

Compared to women who had ongoing symptomatic gynecological problems, Australian women who had had a hysterectomy had overwhelmingly positive comments, and felt that their sexual life had improved.

1996 Aust Health Rev 19;2:40-55

Ferroni, P. and Deeble, J.

2040890 JA

Case report of a woman who developed anxiety attacks after scheduling a hysterectomy. She had previously been raped at knifepoint, had never had counseling about this episode, and said "I know this sounds crazy, but having the hysterectomy will feel like I'm being raped all over again." "Even though some women with unresolved sexual abuse histories may have been able to bracket off their negative feelings, the surgical procedure of a hysterectomy has enough parallels with sexual abuse (violation of bodily boundaries, loss of control, disruption of sexual identity...) that it may resurrect old negative feelings that were dormant."

1991 J Fam Pract 32;6:631-2

Hendricks-Matthews, M. K.

8079610 JA

Women with dysmenorrhea preop had significant improvement in sexuality post hysterectomy. Preop psychiatric history had no significant influence on postop sexuality.

1994 Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 73;7:575-80

Helstrom, L., Weiner, E., Sorbom, D., and Backstrom, T.

8437786 JA

In Swedish women who underwent subtotal hysterectomy, 50% reported improved sexuality, 21% deterioration, and 29% no change. The most important predictor of positive postop sexuality was preop sexual activity.

1993 Obstet Gynecol 81;3:357-62

Helstrom, L., Lundberg, P. O., Sorbom, D., and Backstrom, T.

10580459 JA

A prospective study of 1101 Maryland women who underwent hysterectomy showed significant increases 1 and 2 years later in sexual relations, orgasm and libido, and significant decreases in dyspareunia and vaginal dryness. Pre-hysterectomy depression was associated with post-hysterectomy dyspareunia, vaginal dryness, low libido, and lack of orgasm.

1999 JAMA 282;20:1934-41

Rhodes, J. C., Kjerulff, K. H., Langenberg, P. W., and Guzinski, G. M.