Psycho-social problems of women who had undergone hysterectomy

(A Pilot Study)IntroductionWorldwide, reproductive health of women is considered an issue of vitalimportance and one that has wide spread implications on health, well being anddevelopment of the entire population. The concept of total reproductive healthincludes care for the girl child, addressing the special needs of adolescent girls,pregnancy related care, services related to abortion and infertility, prevention andtreatment of gynaecological problems and care for menopausal and postmenopausalwomen, among other things. Unfortunately, contraception, pregnancyand childbirth continue to remain the focus of attention of most health careproviders, researchers and policy formulators. Women who fall out of thereproductive age group, especially adolescent girls and menopausal and postmenopausalwomen are often neglected.There is consensus among health care providers and researchers that women whoundergo hysterectomy face physical, psychological, emotional and social problemsin their post-hysterectomy life. Gynaecologists have looked into the physical aftereffectsof hysterectomy and psychiatrists and psychologists have explored thedepression and other mental health problems encountered by women afterhysterectomy. However few studies have explored the effects of hysterectomy onthe quality of life of women in terms of its effect on the social, familial,occupational and emotional aspects.The research problem and its relevanceHysterectomy is the removal of the uterus and, in most cases, the cervix (neck ofthe uterus). When ovaries and tubes are also removed along with the uterus, theprocedure is known as hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo – oophorectomy.Indications for a hysterectomy are the following:1. Benign conditions where uterus is primarily involved: