Abstract / Summary
Although recent studies define the assumptions that hysterectomy is associated with psychological disruption, long-term psychological and social sequelae are very common among women who undergo hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is an emerging trend, which is premature menopause, women are entering menopause, especially between mid to late 30s. This has been a growing concern in the field of women's health in India [1, 2, 3]. Evidence from a national survey (NFHS-5) shows that 3% of women of reproductive age (15–49) have had a hysterectomy [4], and the common reasons for undergoing hysterotomy were heavy menstrual bleeding, fibroids, cysts, prolapsed uterus, pelvic pain and other gynecological diseases [5, 6]. In India, hysterectomy has received increased attention in health policy debates in the past few years, where the media reports have highlighted an unusual rush forward in the number of women undergoing a hysterectomy in many parts of the country, with a significant number of cases involving young and pre-menopausal women from low-income families. With an increasing number of Hysterectomies, the Lambani community became the target for private clinics to make money by violating the reproductive rights of the young Lambani women. The Private practitioner created fear about cancer and performed unethical surgery without explaining the other treatment options. Due to that fear, women have undergone hysterectomies [7]. To understand the physical and psychological health consequences among women who had hysterectomies prior to age 40 years. The current study adopted a quantitative descriptive research design; a total of 178 women who had undergone hysterectomy were interviewed to assess self-reported physical and psychological health using standardised scales. Lambani women who have undergone hysterectomies at a younger age (below 40) reported 37.1% severe and 44.9% moderate physical health issues. The psychological well-being score was poor, and distress was reported to be high among the study participants. To conclude, study participants reported that physical health suffering had become part of daily life, due to which the well-being is disturbed, and psychological distress has increased.