The Psychologic Importance of the Uterus and Its Functions

Psychiatric Effects of Hysterectomy

“…However our findings are in agreement with a few prospective studies which concluded that hysterectomy seldom led to psychiatric dis› orders [10][11][12][13]. The high psychiatric morbid› ity reported in some studies [2,3,6] were most probably due to methodological shortcom› ings including the fact that patients were not evaluated pre-operatively [2,3], not using standardised scales for the assessment of emotional disturbances [6], studying only psychatric referrals of hysterectomised pa› tients [2], studying only prescriptions of medications by general practioners [3] and studying mixed samples, for example, pa› tients undergoing hysterectomy for prolapse, cancer or in combination with abortion or childbirth [2]. In both study and control groups, the levels of anxiety and depression were higher before the procedure and de› creased after surgery.…”

Randomised trial comparing hysterectomy with endometrial ablation for dysfunctional uterine bleeding: psychiatric and psychosocial aspects

“…Although hysterectomy is a comparatively safe procedure,2 it is associated with clinically significant surgical morbidity3 and it has been alleged to lead to impaired sexual functioning4 and significant psychiatric illness 5. Although the earlier reports of adverse reactions after hysterectomy have been challenged,6 7 some of these concerns are rooted in the history of psychiatry and the fascination with the symbolic value of the (peripatetic) uterus 8…”

A comparison of recovery following hysterectomy and major cardiac surgery

“…Prior to this work research concerning recovery from hysterectomy had been performed by gynaecologists, whose interest has focused upon physical recovery (Levinson 1972, Coles 1977. Work undertaken by psychologists had in the past emphasized the apparent increased risks of psychiatric symptomatology following this operation (Zervos & Papaloucas 1972, Drellich & Bieber 1958 as well as its negative impact on feminine self-image (Deutsch 1942, Dalton 1957, Raphael 1978. However, more recent research indicates that women who have previously encountered psychiatric illness belong to the group most at risk and that hysterectomy itself does not generate psychiatric problems (Gath 1980).…”