title: The partner's view about hysterectomy.
abstract: This prospective interview study was conducted to elucidate the psychological, social and sexual consequences of hysterectomy on the women's partners. In addition to the interviews, a check-list of psychological symptoms was used. Twenty-four partners to women who were scheduled for hysterectomy because of benign uterine diseases entered the study. The men were interviewed before hysterectomy and 12-15 months later. Approximately half of the men reacted with ambivalence towards their partners' decision to undergo hysterectomy. The main concerns of the men were possible complications related to the operation and a diagnosis of cancer. Generally, the men did not receive information from the medical staff, neither before nor after the hysterectomy. The women's symptoms before operation had a negative impact on sexual life and quality of life of the partners. Hysterectomy showed a positive effect not only on the sexual life but also on the overall quality of life of the majority of the men. In conclusion, the men in this study seem to have predominantly supportive attitudes and adequate reactions concerning their partner's hysterectomy. A decrease of their psychological symptoms postsurgery and an improvement of sexual life and overall quality of life could be observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Northern Sweden, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lalos
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lalos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013548:Sweden