Hysterectomy affects daily activities

Women who undergo a hysterectomy may have more problems with daily physical activities than women who go through a natural menopause. A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. It may be performed to treat cancer or certain other conditions, such as endometriosis, fibroids or persistent vaginal bleeding. To study whether or not physical functioning differed in women who underwent a hysterectomy and those who went through menopause naturally, researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor looked at 544 middle-aged women over a period of five years. It was found that women who had a natural menopause and did not take hormone replacement therapy performed more poorly on physical functioning tests than women who had not yet gone through menopause. Those who were on hormone replacement, however, performed nearly as well as premenopausal women. In contrast, women who underwent a hysterectomy had more physical limitations than women who went through menopause naturally, regardless of whether or not they were taking hormonal therapy. These women tended to do more poorly on tests of physical function, such as climbing stairs and measures of handgrip strength. They also reported more difficulties in day-to-day activities like walking, carrying groceries, bending and kneeling. The findings show that women who have had a hysterectomy may be more vulnerable to disabilities as they age. However, it is not clear why hysterectomy was linked to a greater risk of physical limitations. The surgery itself, the condition that precipitated it or the sudden hormonal change that a hysterectomy causes could all play some role. Further studies are warranted to understand whether or not women who have had a hysterectomy are, in fact, at greater risk of disability and poorer quality of life as they grow older.