The role of male partners in women's decision making regarding hysterectomy

Although hysterectomy is a frequently performed surgical procedure, little is known about how women make decisions regarding hysterectomy. This report details the women's perceptions of male partners' knowledge and attitudes about hysterectomy and the role women expect or allow men to play in their decision-making process. Seventeen focus groups were conducted with a total of 82 African American and Caucasian women aged 30-65 years in two coastal counties of South Carolina. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using the nonnumerical unstructured data indexing searching and theory building (QSR NUD*IST(R)) software program. Results indicate that women perceive men to b e not well informed or knowledgeable about hysterectomy, to be concerned ab out the quality of sexual relations after hysterectomy, and, in some cases, to be neutral about hysterectomy. African American women reported that men hold more negative perceptions about hysterectomized women. Caucasian wome n stressed men's inability to understand what a woman is going through and men's concern with the hysterectomy's effect on their own egos. Nonhysterec tomized women felt that men would be more bothered by a surgical procedure that left more visible effects (such as mastectomy). These women defined a limited role for men in their decision making regarding hysterectomy, consi sting of discussion and offering of support/sympathy, but they reserved the actual decision for themselves. Tn a few instances, women accorded men a r ole in the hysterectomy decision based on a religious interpretation of mar riage. Intervention programs are recommended that target women and their pa rtners together, using hysterectomized women and their partners as peer edu cators.