Does Quality of Life Improve in Women Following Hysterectomy?

Objectives: To measure the change in quality of life of women before and after hysterectomy.

Methods: This prospective observational cohort study consisted of a convenience sample of 100 women scheduled for elective hysterectomy. Women between the age group of 30-60 years, those living with partner, premenopausal/postmenopausal age, who undergo abdominal/vaginal hysterectomy with or without salphingo oophorectomy for nonmalignant reason, were included. Women were recruited preoperatively and followed for four months after surgery. World Health Organization-Quality of life (WHO-QOL) Questionnaire was completed preoperatively and at four months postoperatively. Analysis included univariate statistics, paired t test and Chi-square tests.

Results: The mean age of women in the study cohort was 43.71 years; majorities had primary education (49.5%), performed coolie work(71.6%), had 2 children(40%) ,duration of complaints were less than 3 months.(29.5%).42.1%of them were diagnosed with Fibroid uterus and 58.9% have undergone Total abdominal Hysterectomy with Bilateral SalphingoOophorectomy.89.5% did not attain natural menopause before surgery. Overall, there was marked improvement in quality of life mainly in Physical health and psychological status at 4 months after surgery as compared to preoperative period. Paired t test showed significant difference( p􀀀0.001) in quality of life scores among samples between preoperative period and at four months after surgery. There was significant association between social relationship in preoperative period with selected demographic variables (Age, preoperative diagnosis and type of surgery undergone). However, it was highly significant with age (p􀀀0.001) as compared to preoperative diagnosis (p􀀀0.05) and type of surgery undergone (p􀀀0.01).

Conclusion: Quality of life improved considerably from the preoperative period to four months postoperative in women who underwent hysterectomy.