Prevalence of hysterectomy and associated factors in women Veterans Affairs patients.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of hysterectomy and associated factors in women veterans who access care at a Veterans Affairs medical center.

STUDY DESIGN: A survey that included questions regarding hysterectomy status, demographics, medical history and validated mental health measures was mailed to 1,935 women who received care at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System between October 1996 and January 1998.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hysterectomy was 32%, with 12% of 18-39-year-olds, 35% of 40-49-year-olds, and 57% of women 50 years old or older reporting having had a hysterectomy. In multivariable analyses, older age (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.07-1.09), multiparity (OR 1.6, 1.14-2.2), self-reported polycystic ovary syndrome (OR 3.3, 1.81-5.9), chronic pelvic pain (OR 3.2, 2.1-4.9), irritable bowel syndrome (OR 1.8, 1.3-3.1) and premenstrual syndrome (OR 1.6, 1.1-2.3) were associated with prior hysterectomy. When factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder in this population were omitted from the model, age (OR 1.07, 1.05-1.08), multiparity (OR 1.4, 1.0-1.9), a family history of ovarian cancer (OR 1.8, 1.2-2.8) and posttraumatic stress disorder (OR 1.4, 1.02-1.87) were associated with prior hysterectomy.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hysterectomy may be higher among women veterans as compared with published rates for the general population and may be related to chronic pain syndromes and/or posttraumatic stress disorder.