Patients' outlook, experience, and satisfaction with hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and subsequent continuation of hormone replacement therapy

OBJECTIVE: Our purposes were to investigate patients' opinions of hysterect omy, bilateral oophorectomy, and hormone replacement therapy and to evaluat e whether their outlook and experience influenced the overall satisfaction and continuation of hormone replacement therapy. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a questionnaire survey of 200 patients before an d 2 years after hysterectomy with or without bilateral oophorectomy. Postop eratively all patients received long-term estradiol and testosterone replac ement. The inquiries of patients' views included (1) preoperative awareness of indication and outlook, (2) postoperative recovery, symptom relief. and experiences with hormone replacement therapy, (3) perceived benefits and p roblems, (4) changes in physical well-being, psychologic state, and sexual activity, (5) continuation of hormone replacement therapy, and (6) overall satisfaction. RESULTS: The outlook toward hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and hormo ne replacement therapy was positive in 77.4%, 87.1%, and 76.3%, respectivel y. The experience was positive in the majority, with a satisfactory postope rative recovery (70.6%), complete symptom relief (77.9%), and minimal side effects with hormone replacement therapy (5.2%). The benefits included impr oved physical well-being (79.9%), lower depressive symptoms (32.0%), and be tter sexuality (31.4%). The continuation rate of hormone replacement therap y was 97.4%, and overall satisfaction was positive in 88.7% of patients. Th e independent predictors of satisfaction were outlook toward hysterectomy a nd incomplete symptom relief. CONCLUSION: The outcome of hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and hormon e replacement therapy was satisfactory to most patients.