SELF-REPORTED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF HYSTERECTOMY

Objectives - To investigate women's perceptions of and satisfaction with the long-term outcomes from a hysterectomy performed between 2 and 10 years ago and to determine whether satisfaction is related to demographic factors, factors associated with the hysterectomy, and the number or type of perceived benefits and problems associated with the hysterectomy. Design - Retrospective survey by telephone interview and postal questionnaire of 236 women who had a hysterectomy between 2 and 10 years ago. Setting - Women who had had a hysterectomy were identified from a community survey in the Hunter Region of NSW, Australia. Subjects - Two hundred and thirty-six women who self-reported having had a hysterectomy between 2 and 10 years ago. Main outcome measures - Perceived benefits resulting from the hysterectomy perceived physical and psychological problems caused by the hysterectomy; satisfaction with care. Results - Relief from heavy bleeding was the most frequent benefit (57%) and the most important benefit (32%). Most of the women reported improvements in symptoms experienced before hysterectomy but more than half the women had symptoms which they believed had been worsened or caused by the hysterectomy. Despite this, high levels of satisfaction with the operation were reported. Conclusion - The results highlight the need to examine more closely decision-making about treatment for menstrual symptoms such as heavy bleeding.