title: Counselling the hysterectomy patient.
abstract: The problem of psychosexual disorders following hysterectomy is reviewed. A search of the current literature suggests that a large number of women who have post-hysterectomy depression, loss of libido, or other neuroses have a previous history of depression and neurosis, that they have a generally poor knowledge of their own anatomy and physiology, or that they have received poor counselling and explanation from their own doctor. The fact that the decision to perform a hysterectomy may have been incorrect has also been suggested as a possible cause for regret for the loss of their uterus in some women, whilst in others it is often related to the concept that the uterus is the source of a woman's femininity and the loss of this organ makes her less than a woman. A regime of counselling and the use of an explanatory pamphlet is proposed for all women who are to have a hysterectomy.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*