A prospective study of outcomes five years after hysterectomy in premenopausal women

Correlation analysis of hysterectomy and ovarian preservation with depression

The relationship between hysterectomy and ovarian preservation and depression is controversial. This study aimed to determine the association of hysterectomy and ovarian preservation with depression using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. To assess the association between hysterectomy with or without ovariectomy and depression, we used 3 methods. Method 1: propensity score model (PSM) was established. Method 2 was logistics regression analysis of hysterectomy and depression before and after PSM. Method 3 was a logistics regression analysis of the relationship between hysterectomy and different depressive symptoms. At the same time, in order to evaluate the association between hysterectomy with or without oophorectomy and depression, we explored the effect of four different surgical procedures on depression using logistic regression equations. We enrolled 12,097 women, of whom 2763 underwent hysterectomy, 34.455% were positive for depression. After weighting, 33.825% of the total sample had a PHQ ≥ 5. Finally, a total of 2778 women were successfully matched by propensity score, and 35.537% of them were positive for depression. The OR for PHQ ≥ 5 was 1.236 after crude adjustment of covariates and 1.234 after exact adjustment. This suggests that Hysterectomy is strongly associated with positive depression. Positive depression (PHQ ≥ 5) was associated with little interest, feeling down and trouble concentrating. It was not associated with trouble sleeping, feeling tired, poor appetite, feeling bad, slow moving or speaking, and suicidal thoughts. Oophorectomy-alone is not associated with depression. Hysterectomy-alone is a risk factor for depression, but Hysterectomy combined with Oophorectomy has a stronger correlation with depression than Hysterectomy-alone. Women who have had a Hysterectomy are at higher risk of depression than women who have not had a Hysterectomy, and this risk may be exacerbated if the uterus and ovaries are removed. When clinically appropriate, surgeons should try to preserve the patient's ovaries.

Uterine fibroids and incidence of depression, anxiety and self-directed violence: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety are prevalent among women with uterine fibroids (UF). The rate of mental health diagnoses in women with UF has not been studied.

METHODS

Women aged 18-50 years with diagnosed UF were identified in the Optum Clinformatics commercial insurance claims database (OptumInsight, Eden Prairie, Minnesota) from 1 May 2000 to 31 March 2020 (n=313 754) and were matched 1:2 on age and calendar time to women without (n=627 539). Cox proportional hazards models estimated HRs and 95% CIs between UF and diagnosed depression, anxiety and self-directed violence, adjusting for demographics and comorbidities. Among women with diagnosed UF, the association between hysterectomy and mental health outcomes was estimated.

RESULTS

After adjusting for confounders, women with diagnosed UF had a higher rate of depression (HR: 1.12; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.13), anxiety (HR: 1.12; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.13) and self-directed violence (HR: 1.46; 95% CI 1.29 to 1.64) than women without. Among women with pain symptoms and heavy menstrual bleeding, the HR comparing women with diagnosed UF to women without was 1.21 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.25) for depression, 1.18 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.21) for anxiety and 1.68 (95% CI 1.35 to 2.09) for self-directed violence. Among women with diagnosed UF, the HR comparing women who underwent a hysterectomy to women who did not was 1.22 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.27) for depression, 1.13 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.17) for anxiety and 1.86 (95% CI 1.39 to 2.49) for self-directed violence.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of depression, anxiety and self-directed violence were higher among women with diagnosed UF, particularly among those who experienced pain symptoms or who underwent hysterectomy.

What We Know about the Long-Term Risks of Hysterectomy for Benign Indication-A Systematic Review

Hysterectomy is the most common treatment option in women with uterine fibroids, providing definitive relief from the associated burdensome symptoms. As with all surgical interventions, hysterectomy is associated with risk of complications, short-term morbidities, and mortality, all of which have been described previously. However, information on the potential long-term risks of hysterectomy is only recently becoming available. A systematic literature review was performed to identify studies published between 2005 and December 2020 evaluating the long-term impact of hysterectomy on patient outcomes. A total of 29 relevant studies were identified. A review of the articles showed that hysterectomy may increase the risk of cardiovascular events, certain cancers, the need for further surgery, early ovarian failure and menopause, depression, and other outcomes. It is important to acknowledge that the available studies examine possible associations and hypotheses rather than causality, and there is a need to establish higher quality studies to truly evaluate the long-term consequences of hysterectomy. However, it is of value to consider these findings when discussing the benefits and risks of all treatment options with patients with uterine fibroids to allow for preference-based choices to be made in a shared decision-making process. This is key to ensuring that patients receive the treatment that best meets their individual needs.

Hysterectomy status and all-cause mortality in a 21-year Australian population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Hysterectomy is a common surgical procedure, predominantly performed when women are between 30 and 50 years old. One in 3 women in Australia has had a hysterectomy by the time they are 60 years old, and 30% have both ovaries removed at the time of surgery. Given this high prevalence, it is important to understand the long-term effects of hysterectomy. In particular, women who have a hysterectomy/oophorectomy at younger ages are likely to be premenopausal or perimenopausal and may experience greater changes in hormone levels and a shortened reproductive lifespan than women who have a hysterectomy when they are older and postmenopausal. Use of menopausal hormone therapy after surgery may compensate for these hormonal changes. To inform clinical decisions about postsurgery management of women who have a hysterectomy prior to menopause (ie, average age at menopause 50 years), it is useful to compare women with a hysterectomy to women with no hysterectomy and to stratify the hysterectomy status by whether or not women have had a bilateral oophorectomy, or used menopausal hormone therapy.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to investigate whether women who had a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation or a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy before the age of 50 years were at a higher risk of premature all-cause mortality compared to women who did not have this surgery before the age of 50 years. We also sought to explore whether use of menopausal hormone therapy modified these associations.

STUDY DESIGN

Women from the midcohort (born 1946 through 1951) of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were included in our study sample (n = 13,541). Women who reported a hysterectomy (with and without both ovaries removed) before the age of 50 years were considered exposure at risk and compared with women who did not report these surgeries before age 50 years. To explore effect modification by use of menopausal hormone therapy we further stratified hysterectomy status by menopausal hormone therapy use. Risk of all-cause mortality was assessed using inverse-probability weighted Cox regression models.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 21.5 years, there were 901 (6.7%) deaths in our study sample. Overall, there was no difference in all-cause mortality between women who reported a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.72-1.02) or women who reported a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy (hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.34) and women with no hysterectomy. When stratified by menopausal hormone therapy use, women with hysterectomy and ovarian conservation before the age of 50 years were not at higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to no hysterectomy, regardless of menopausal hormone therapy use status. In contrast, among nonusers of menopausal hormone therapy only, women who reported a hysterectomy-bilateral oophorectomy before the age of 50 years were at a higher risk of death compared to women with no hysterectomy (hazard ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-3.25).

CONCLUSION

Hysterectomy with ovarian conservation before the age of 50 years did not increase risk of all-cause mortality. Among nonmenopausal hormone therapy users only, hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy before the age of 50 years was associated with a higher risk of death.

Hysterectomies Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Depression: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, we investigated whether undergoing a hysterectomy increases the risk of depression. A total of 7872 patients aged 30–49 years who underwent a hysterectomy from 2000 to 2013 were enrolled as the hysterectomy group. The comparison group was randomly selected from women who had never undergone a hysterectomy and was four times the size of the hysterectomy group. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for depression [The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes 296.2, 296.3, 300.4, 311] in these cohorts after adjusting for age, comorbidities, oophorectomy, and hormone therapy. The overall incidence of depression was 1.02 and 0.66 per 100 person-years in the hysterectomy and comparison cohorts, respectively, yielding an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.35 (95% CI = 1.22–1.50) for depression risk. When we stratified patients by age, comorbidities, oophorectomy, and hormone use, hysterectomy increased the risk of depression. Hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and post-surgery hormone use were associated with an increased risk of depression when they occurred alone, but conferred a greater risk if they were considered jointly. Hysterectomy would be a predisposing factor for increased risk of subsequent depression. Our findings provide vital information for patients, clinicians, and the government for improving the treatment strategy in the future.

Surgical prevention strategies in ovarian cancer

Given the current lack of effective screening for ovarian cancer, surgical removal of at-risk tissue is the most successful strategy to decrease risk of cancer development. However, the optimal timing of surgery and tissues to remove, as well as the appropriate patients to undergo preventive procedures are poorly understood. In this review, we first discuss the origin and precursors of ovarian epithelial carcinomas, focusing on high-grade serous carcinomas and endometriosis-associated carcinomas, which cause the majority of the mortality and incidence of ovarian cancer. In addition, we summarize the implications of current understanding of specific pathogenic origins for surgical prevention and remaining gaps in knowledge. Secondly, we review evidence from the epidemiologic literature on the associations of various surgical prevention strategies, including endometriosis excision, tubal procedures, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with risk of future ovarian cancer development, as well as the short- and long-term consequences of these strategies on women's health and quality and life. We conclude with recommendations for surgical prevention in women with high-risk genetic mutations and average-risk women, and a brief discussion of ongoing research that will help clarify optimal surgical approaches that balance risk-reduction with maintenance of women's quality of life.

Hysterectomy and incidence of depressive symptoms in midlife women: the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health

AIMS

There is limited longitudinal research that has looked at the longer term incidence of depressive symptoms, comparing women with a hysterectomy to women without a hysterectomy. We aimed to investigate the association between hysterectomy status and the 12-year incidence of depressive symptoms in a mid-aged cohort of Australian women, and whether these relationships were modified by use of exogenous hormones.

METHODS

We used generalised estimating equation models for binary outcome data to assess the associations of the incidence of depressive symptoms (measured by the 10-item Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) across five surveys over a 12-year period, in women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation, or a hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy compared with women without a hysterectomy. We further stratified women with hysterectomy by their current use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). Women who reported prior treatment for depression were excluded from the analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with women without a hysterectomy (n = 4002), both women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation (n = 884) and women with a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy (n = 450) had a higher risk of depressive symptoms (relative risk (RR) 1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.36 and RR 1.44; 95% CI 1.22-1.68, respectively). There were differences in the strength of the risk for women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation, compared with those without, when we stratified by current MHT use. Compared with women without a hysterectomy who did not use MHT, women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation who were also MHT users had a higher risk of depressive symptoms (RR 1.57; 95% CI 1.31-1.88) than women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation but did not use MHT (RR 1.17; 95% CI 1.02-1.35). For women with a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy, MHT use did not attenuate the risk. We could not rule out, however, that the higher risk seen among MHT users may be due to confounding by indication, i.e. MHT was prescribed to treat depressive symptoms, but their depressive symptoms persisted.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with a hysterectomy (with and without bilateral oophorectomy) have a higher risk of new incidence of depressive symptoms in the longer term that was not explained by lifestyle or socio-economic factors.

Salpingo-oophorectomy at the Time of Benign Hysterectomy: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To compare the long-term risks associated with salpingo-oophorectomy with ovarian conservation at the time of benign hysterectomy.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to January 30, 2015. We included prospective and retrospective comparative studies of women with benign hysterectomy who had either bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) or conservation of one or both ovaries.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION

Reviewers double-screened 5,568 citations and extracted eligible studies into customized forms. Twenty-six comparative studies met inclusion criteria. Studies were assessed for results, quality, and strength of evidence.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS

Studies were extracted for participant, intervention, comparator, and outcomes data. When compared with hysterectomy with BSO, prevalence of reoperation and ovarian cancer was higher in women with ovarian conservation (ovarian cancer risk of 0.14-0.7% compared with 0.02-0.04% among those with BSO). Hysterectomy with BSO was associated with a lower incidence of breast and total cancer, but no difference in the incidence of cancer mortality was found when compared with ovarian conservation. All-cause mortality was higher in women younger than age 45 years at the time of BSO who were not treated with estrogen replacement therapy (hazard ratio [HR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.92). Coronary heart disease (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.04-1.54) and cardiovascular death were higher among women with BSO (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.27-2.68), especially women younger than 45 years who were not treated with estrogen. Finally, there was an increase in the prevalence of dementia and Parkinson disease among women with BSO compared with conservation, especially in women younger than age 50 years. Clinical practice guidelines were devised based on these results.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy offers the advantage of effectively eliminating the risk of ovarian cancer and reoperation but can be detrimental to other aspects of health, especially among women younger than age 45 years.

[Evaluation of quality of life and subjective experience of the disease before and after vaginal hysterectomy among women admitted to the University Hospital in Brazzaville]

Toute maladie est un mal en soi qu’il faut éradiquer car elle altère souvent de façon significative la qualité de la vie. L’hystérectomie vaginale est indiquée pour les patientes qui présentent certaines affections gynécologiques graves, elle est donc bénéfique mais, peut également avoir une répercussion néfaste sur la qualité de vie de la femme. Ainsi nous avons voulu explorer le vécu de la maladie et de l’hystérectomie vaginale (HV) des femmes avant et après l’intervention chirurgicale. Nous avons effectué une étude prospective qualitative, à recueil clinique sur une période de 12 mois; qui a concerné les femmes, ayant subi une hystérectomie vaginale. Celles n’ayant pas accepté de participer à l’étude, ou n’ayant pas de contact téléphonique n’ont pas été incluses. Pendant la maladie, le vécu des femmes a été: l’inconfort sexuel 26/40 (65%); les saignements génitaux 12/40 (30%); les douleurs pelviennes 13/40 (32,5%). En Post-opératoire, ont été noté les dyspareunies transitoires30/40 (75%) ; les céphalées secondaires à l’anesthésie 4/40 (10%). Le vécu psychologique a été dominé avant l’HV par la peur de la chirurgie chez toutes les patientes, les troubles du sommeil 38/40 (95%), l’angoisse 30 /40(75%), un sentiment de honte lié aux difficultés à accomplir l’acte sexuel en raison du prolapsus 26/40(65%) et/ ou en raison des saignements génitaux, dus au fibrome utérin 14/40(35%). Le sentiment de la perte de féminité était déclaré par 26/40 femmes porteuses de prolapsus utérin (65%), la modification de l’estime de soi 26/40 (65%). Ces appréciations subjectives ont été améliorées avec l’HV, contre balançant la perte de leur organe de reproduction. Aucune information n’a été donnée par les femmes à leurs proches et aux membres de la famille avant la chirurgie, traduisant ainsi leur sentiment de gène ou de honte. L’arrêt des symptômes a été observé dans tous les cas, même si dans un cas (1,25%) un nouveau signe au titre des complications (plaie rectale) a éténoté. Concernant l’activité sexuelle, tous les couples ont déclaré leur satisfaction après le traitement. Le vécu dramatique de la maladie et de l’hystérectomie vaginale avant, est nettement amélioré après l’intervention chirurgicale.

Risk of depressive disorders in women undergoing hysterectomy: A population-based follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the risk of depressive disorders in women who underwent hysterectomy in Taiwan.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted in a matched cohort of cases using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Database records from 1689 women who underwent hysterectomy between 2001 and 2005 were included in this study. A control group matched for age and physical comorbidity was selected from the same database (n = 6752). For all cases, medical records were tracked until the end of 2009 to identify whether a depressive disorder was diagnosed during the follow-up period. The hazard ratio (HR) for depression during the observation period was analyzed using multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models, adjusted for age, physical comorbidities, and other socioeconomic factors.

RESULTS

The HR for depression was 1.78 times higher for the group that underwent hysterectomy than for the control group (adjusted HR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.46-2.18, p < 0.001). In addition, HR for major depressive disorder in women who underwent hysterectomy was significantly higher (1.84 times) than for the control group (adjusted HR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.23-2.74, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed that, in Taiwan, women who underwent hysterectomy had an increased risk of developing depression. Longitudinal studies to follow-up the psychological outcomes in Taiwanese women who underwent hysterectomy will be necessary to confirm our findings.

Psychological outcomes after hysterectomy for benign conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hysterectomy is one of the commonest operative procedures in the developed world, mostly occurring among premenopausal women, with contradictory results regarding post-operative psychological wellbeing. This review aims to inform practice by examining whether hysterectomy predicts depression or anxiety outcomes. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO electronic databases for articles published before November 2012. Reference lists of relevant articles were hand searched, and expert opinions were sought. Refereed studies investigating an association between hysterectomy for benign (non-cancerous) conditions and post-operative symptoms of depression or anxiety were chosen for this review. Two authors independently abstracted data from original articles. Authors of relevant studies were contacted for data that could not be extracted from the published articles. Review Manager 5.1 was used throughout the meta-analysis to calculate the summary relative risks (RRs), and the weighted standardized mean difference (WstdMD), and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). A random effects model was used in data analysis and verified using a fixed effect model. Overall, hysterectomy was associated with a decreased risk of clinically relevant depression (RR=1.69, 95% CI 1.19-2.38). Additionally, hysterectomy was associated with a decrease in standardized depression outcomes (standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.38 (95% CI 0.27-0.49)). Conversely, there was no significant association between hysterectomy and risk of clinically relevant anxiety (RR=1.41, 95% CI 0.72-2.75). In conclusion, data from before and after studies suggest that hysterectomy for benign gynecological conditions is not adversely associated with anxiety and may be positively rather than adversely associated with depression.

Does menstrual bleeding decrease after ablation of intramural myomas? A retrospective study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of radiofrequency volumetric thermal ablation (RFVTA) on menstrual bleeding in patients with intramural myomas.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of a recently completed prospective trial of laparoscopic ultrasound-guided RFVTA in which 135 subjects had objectively measured heavy menstrual bleeding (≥160 to ≤500 mL) and confirmed submucosal, intramural, and subserosal myomas. We analyzed the pretreatment monthly menstrual blood loss as well as the response to treatment based on the types of myomas, specifically those subjects with only intramural myomas versus those with only submucosal myomas or those with both (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

Outpatient hospital and private surgery centers.

PATIENTS

One hundred thirty-five premenopausal symptomatic women (mean age: 42.4 ± 4.5 years) with uterine myomas and heavy menstrual bleeding confirmed by alkaline hematin analysis.

INTERVENTIONS

Laparoscopic ultrasound-guided RFVTA.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Menstrual blood loss (MBL) at baseline and at 12 months after the procedure was quantified in 122 subjects with intramural myomas (including those that abut the endometrium, those that are within the myometrium, and those that extend from the serosa into the myometrium) and/or submucous myomas. Although 91.8% (112/122) of these subjects had 1 or more intramural myomas, submucous myomas were present in fewer than half of the subjects ([48.4%]). We identified 10 subjects who had submucous but no intramural myomas. This group had a significant (-45.1%) posttreatment decrease in monthly bleeding (95% confidence interval [CI], -78.0% to -12.2%; p = .013). In this same study, there were 63 subjects with intramural myomas and no submucosal myomas, and their posttreatment decrease in MBL of -31.8% was also clinically and statistically significant (95% CI, -41.4% to -22.2%; p<.001). Of those 63 subjects was a subset with intramural myomas (n = 27) without myomas abutting the endometrium or submucous myomas; this third set also resulted in a clinically and statistically significant reduction in MBL (-25.0% and -65.22 mL; 95% CI, -38.8% to -11.2%; p = .001).

CONCLUSION

Although it has been known that the treatment of submucous myomas results in a reduction of MBL, this is the first study to show that radiofrequency ablative therapy for intramural myomas without a submucosal component will also result in a significant reduction in menstrual blood loss.