title: Surgical menopause: effects on psychological well-being and sexuality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Women anticipating surgical menopause often have significant concerns regarding the effects of surgery on psychological well-being and sexuality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The impact of hysterectomy, often with concurrent oophorectomy, on well-being and sexuality will vary depending on many factors. These include a woman's preoperative mental health and sexual function, the indications for surgery, and the specific procedure being performed. Whether or not estrogen therapy is an option also will affect a woman's postoperative symptoms and experience of surgical menopause.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of research on the effects of surgical menopause shows improved psychological well-being and sexual function after hysterectomy for benign disease. Women with depression or sexual problems preoperatively are at increased risk for experiencing a worsening of mood and libido postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Vincent Ob/Gyn Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. jshifren@partners.org
authors.forename: Jan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Shifren
authors.forename: Nancy E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Avis
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D019529:Sexuality