A Qualitative Comparison of Women's Attitudes Toward Hysterectomy and Myomectomy

Abstract

Hysterectomy is the second most common surgery in the United States, where it is practiced at far higher levels than in any other country. There is limited understanding however, of why American women choose hysterectomy over other treatments. Using a qualitative interview approach, we examined the attitudes of 18 women who had either a hysterectomy or abdominal myomectomy as a treatment for uterine fibroids. From the thematic analysis it is suggested that the two groups had different factors affecting their choice of surgery, such as information, attitudes toward the reproductive organs, and attitudes toward doctors. It is concluded that greater efforts should be made to improve women's access to information, and that international comparisons might help to improve our understanding of how hysterectomy rates in the United States can be reduced.

This study would not have been possible without the time and energy given to it by the participants. In addition, the author thanks the Graduate School of the University of Georgia, which generously provided the funding for the dissertation research that generated the data for this article.