Introduction: Hysterectomy remains as the most commonly performed gynecological surgery
in the world. It is a stressful and unpleasant experience for women which can critically
influence on their physical, psychological and sexual life.
Objective: To explore the experiences of patients who had hysterectomy in Teaching Hospital,
Kandy.
Methods: In this quantitative descriptive study, 192 women who had hysterectomy during the
year 2000 to 2018 at the Teaching Hospital, Kandy were conveniently recruited. Data were
collected over the phone using a validated interviewer-administered questionnaire. Ethical
approval was obtained from the same hospital. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics
using SPSS 22 version.
Results: About two thirds of the participants (118) were belonged to the 41-50 years age
category and 75% of the study participants were married. About half of the participants (102)
knew very little or merely not known about hormonal therapies. Around 60% of the women
indicated that their body weight dramatically increased after the surgery and 30% reported that
it took 1-4 months to commence day to day activities after hysterectomy. Majority (about 90%)
believed that a womb is needed for the completeness of a woman, and they are worrying about
the loss of the womb. Among the participants, approximately one fourth expressed their
displeasure of the inability of having children hereafter. About 78% of the participants reported
increased vaginal dryness after hysterectomy. Furthermore, about half of them (96) mentioned
that more than six months were taken for resume their sexual activities and about 40% reported
notable reduction in the number of times of sexual activity after hysterectomy.
Conclusions: The presence of psychological and emotional stress was evident in this study.
Therefore, exploring patient's experience immediately after hysterectomy can be used to
arrange tailored post-operative interventions for the patients to cope with their discomforts thus
patients will enable to live a quality life after recovery.
Introduction: Hysterectomy remains as the most commonly performed gynecological surgery
in the world. It is a stressful and unpleasant experience for women which can critically
influence on their physical, psychological and sexual life.
Objective: To explore the experiences of patients who had hysterectomy in Teaching Hospital,
Kandy.
Methods: In this quantitative descriptive study, 192 women who had hysterectomy during the
year 2000 to 2018 at the Teaching Hospital, Kandy were conveniently recruited. Data were
collected over the phone using a validated interviewer-administered questionnaire. Ethical
approval was obtained from the same hospital. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics
using SPSS 22 version.
Results: About two thirds of the participants (118) were belonged to the 41-50 years age
category and 75% of the study participants were married. About half of the participants (102)
knew very little or merely not known about hormonal therapies. Around 60% of the women
indicated that their body weight dramatically increased after the surgery and 30% reported that
it took 1-4 months to commence day to day activities after hysterectomy. Majority (about 90%)
believed that a womb is needed for the completeness of a woman, and they are worrying about
the loss of the womb. Among the participants, approximately one fourth expressed their
displeasure of the inability of having children hereafter. About 78% of the participants reported
increased vaginal dryness after hysterectomy. Furthermore, about half of them (96) mentioned
that more than six months were taken for resume their sexual activities and about 40% reported
notable reduction in the number of times of sexual activity after hysterectomy.
Conclusions: The presence of psychological and emotional stress was evident in this study.
Therefore, exploring patient's experience immediately after hysterectomy can be used to
arrange tailored post-operative interventions for the patients to cope with their discomforts thus
patients will enable to live a quality life after recovery.
Introduction: Hysterectomy remains as the most commonly performed gynecological surgery
in the world. It is a stressful and unpleasant experience for women which can critically
influence on their physical, psychological and sexual life.
Objective: To explore the experiences of patients who had hysterectomy in Teaching Hospital,
Kandy.
Methods: In this quantitative descriptive study, 192 women who had hysterectomy during the
year 2000 to 2018 at the Teaching Hospital, Kandy were conveniently recruited. Data were
collected over the phone using a validated interviewer-administered questionnaire. Ethical
approval was obtained from the same hospital. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics
using SPSS 22 version.
Results: About two thirds of the participants (118) were belonged to the 41-50 years age
category and 75% of the study participants were married. About half of the participants (102)
knew very little or merely not known about hormonal therapies. Around 60% of the women
indicated that their body weight dramatically increased after the surgery and 30% reported that
it took 1-4 months to commence day to day activities after hysterectomy. Majority (about 90%)
believed that a womb is needed for the completeness of a woman, and they are worrying about
the loss of the womb. Among the participants, approximately one fourth expressed their
displeasure of the inability of having children hereafter. About 78% of the participants reported
increased vaginal dryness after hysterectomy. Furthermore, about half of them (96) mentioned
that more than six months were taken for resume their sexual activities and about 40% reported
notable reduction in the number of times of sexual activity after hysterectomy.
Conclusions: The presence of psychological and emotional stress was evident in this study.
Therefore, exploring patient's experience immediately after hysterectomy can be used to
arrange tailored post-operative interventions for the patients to cope with their discomforts thus
patients will enable to live a quality life after recovery.
