Hysterectomy and incidence of depressive symptoms in midlife women: the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health

Observational OA: closed CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0
⚙ AI-generated summary by qwen3.7-flash, 2026-10-13 ⓘ

This longitudinal study found that midlife women with hysterectomies, regardless of ovarian conservation status, experienced a higher long-term incidence of depressive symptoms compared to those without surgery.

One-sentence paraphrase of the abstract; not a substitute for reading it. No clinical advice. How this works

⚙ AI-generated deep summary by qwen3.7-flash, 2026-10-13 · read from full text ⓘ

This longitudinal study investigated the association between hysterectomy status and the twelve-year incidence of depressive symptoms in a cohort of midlife Australian women. The researchers compared women who underwent hysterectomy with ovarian conservation or bilateral oophorectomy against those without hysterectomy, while also examining the modifying effects of menopausal hormone therapy use. Results indicated that both groups of hysterectomy patients had a significantly higher risk of developing new depressive symptoms compared to the control group, a finding that persisted even after adjusting for lifestyle and socioeconomic factors. The authors noted a potential limitation regarding confounding by indication, where hormone therapy might have been prescribed specifically to treat existing mood disorders rather than preventing them. Relevance to endometriosis: listed as one indication for hysterectomy, though the paper's main focus is on post-surgical mental health outcomes rather than the gynecological conditions themselves.

Read from the paper's body, not the abstract. Not a substitute for reading the paper. No clinical advice. How this works

Abstract

AIMS: There is limited longitudinal research that has looked at the longer term incidence of depressive symptoms, comparing women with a hysterectomy to women without a hysterectomy. We aimed to investigate the association between hysterectomy status and the 12-year incidence of depressive symptoms in a mid-aged cohort of Australian women, and whether these relationships were modified by use of exogenous hormones. METHODS: We used generalised estimating equation models for binary outcome data to assess the associations of the incidence of depressive symptoms (measured by the 10-item Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) across five surveys over a 12-year period, in women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation, or a hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy compared with women without a hysterectomy. We further stratified women with hysterectomy by their current use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). Women who reported prior treatment for depression were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: Compared with women without a hysterectomy (n = 4002), both women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation (n = 884) and women with a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy (n = 450) had a higher risk of depressive symptoms (relative risk (RR) 1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.36 and RR 1.44; 95% CI 1.22-1.68, respectively). There were differences in the strength of the risk for women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation, compared with those without, when we stratified by current MHT use. Compared with women without a hysterectomy who did not use MHT, women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation who were also MHT users had a higher risk of depressive symptoms (RR 1.57; 95% CI 1.31-1.88) than women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation but did not use MHT (RR 1.17; 95% CI 1.02-1.35). For women with a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy, MHT use did not attenuate the risk. We could not rule out, however, that the higher risk seen among MHT users may be due to confounding by indication, i.e. MHT was prescribed to treat depressive symptoms, but their depressive symptoms persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Women with a hysterectomy (with and without bilateral oophorectomy) have a higher risk of new incidence of depressive symptoms in the longer term that was not explained by lifestyle or socio-economic factors.
Full text 9,904 characters · extracted from oa-doi-fallback · click to expand
No CrossRef data available. Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 February 2017 Aims. There is limited longitudinal research that has looked at the longer term incidence of depressive symptoms, comparing women with a hysterectomy to women without a hysterectomy. We aimed to investigate the association between hysterectomy status and the 12-year incidence of depressive symptoms in a mid-aged cohort of Australian women, and whether these relationships were modified by use of exogenous hormones. Methods. We used generalised estimating equation models for binary outcome data to assess the associations of the incidence of depressive symptoms (measured by the 10-item Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) across five surveys over a 12-year period, in women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation, or a hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy compared with women without a hysterectomy. We further stratified women with hysterectomy by their current use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). Women who reported prior treatment for depression were excluded from the analysis. Results. Compared with women without a hysterectomy (n = 4002), both women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation (n = 884) and women with a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy (n = 450) had a higher risk of depressive symptoms (relative risk (RR) 1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.36 and RR 1.44; 95% CI 1.22–1.68, respectively). There were differences in the strength of the risk for women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation, compared with those without, when we stratified by current MHT use. Compared with women without a hysterectomy who did not use MHT, women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation who were also MHT users had a higher risk of depressive symptoms (RR 1.57; 95% CI 1.31–1.88) than women with a hysterectomy with ovarian conservation but did not use MHT (RR 1.17; 95% CI 1.02–1.35). For women with a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy, MHT use did not attenuate the risk. We could not rule out, however, that the higher risk seen among MHT users may be due to confounding by indication, i.e. MHT was prescribed to treat depressive symptoms, but their depressive symptoms persisted. Conclusions. Women with a hysterectomy (with and without bilateral oophorectomy) have a higher risk of new incidence of depressive symptoms in the longer term that was not explained by lifestyle or socio-economic factors. - Type - Original Articles - Information - Copyright - Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 Andresen, EM, Malmgren, JA, Carter, WB, Patrick, DL (1994). Screening for depression in well older adults: evaluation of a short form of the CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale). American Journal of Preventive Medicine 10, 77–84.Google Scholar Barker, MG (1968). Psychiatric illness after hysterectomy. British Medical Journal 2, 91–95.Google Scholar Blumel, JE, Chedraui, P, Baron, G, Benitez, Z, Flores, D, Espinoza, MT, Gomez, G, Gonzalez, E, Hernandez, L, Lima, S, Martino, M, Montano, A, Monterrosa, A, Mostajo, D, Ojeda, E, Onatra, W, Robles, C, Saavedra, J, Sanchez, H, Tserotas, K, Vallejo, MS, Vallejo, C, Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin, A. (2014). A multicentric study regarding the use of hormone therapy during female mid-age (REDLINC VI). Climacteric 17, 433–441.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed Cabness, J (2010). The psychosocial dimensions of hysterectomy: private places and the inner spaces of women at midlife. Social Work in Health Care 49, 211–226.Google Scholar Chou, PH, Lin, CH, Cheng, C, Chang, CL, Tsai, CJ, Tsai, CP, Lan, TH, Chan, CH (2015). Risk of depressive disorders in women undergoing hysterectomy: a population-based follow-up study. Journal of Psychiatric Research 68, 186–191.Google Scholar Colditz, GA, Stampfer, MJ, Willett, WC, Stason, WB, Rosner, B, Hennekens, CH, Speizer, FE (1987). Reproducibility and validity of self-reported menopausal status in a prospective cohort study. American Journal of Epidemiology 126, 319–325.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care (1999). An Active Way to Better Health: National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults. AGPS: Cancerra, AUST.Google Scholar Darwish, M, Atlantis, E, Mohamed-Taysir, T (2014). Psychological outcomes after hysterectomy for benign conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology 174, 5–19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed Dennerstein, L, Guthrie, JR, Clark, M, Lehert, P, Henderson, VW (2004). A population-based study of depressed mood in middle-aged, Australian-born women. Menopause 11, 563–568.Google Scholar Dobson, AJ, Hockey, R, Brown, WJ, Byles, JE, Loxton, DJ, McLaughlin, D, Tooth, LR, Mishra, GD (2015). Cohort profile update: Australian longitudinal study on women's health. International Journal of Epidemiology 44, 1547, 1547a–1547f.Google Scholar Elson, J (2003). Hormonal hierarchy – hysterectomy and stratified stigma. Gender and Society 17, 750–770.Google Scholar Farquhar, CM, Sadler, L, Stewart, AW (2008). A prospective study of outcomes five years after hysterectomy in premenopausal women. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 48, 510–516.Google Scholar Guthrie, JR, Dennerstein, L, Dudley, EC (1999). Weight gain and the menopause: a 5-year prospective study. Climacteric 2, 205–211.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed Hammer, A, Rositch, AF, Kahlert, J, Gravitt, PE, Blaakaer, J, Sogaard, M (2015). Global epidemiology of hysterectomy: possible impact on gynecological cancer rates. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 213, 23–29.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed Hehenkamp, WJ, Volkers, NA, Broekmans, FJ, de Jong, FH, Themmen, AP, Birnie, E, Reekers, JA, Ankum, WM (2007). Loss of ovarian reserve after uterine artery embolization: a randomized comparison with hysterectomy. Human Reproduction 22, 1996–2005.Google Scholar Lee, C, Dobson, AJ, Brown, WJ, Bryson, L, Byles, J, Warner-Smith, P, Young, AF (2005). Cohort profile: the Australian longitudinal study on women's health. International Journal of Epidemiology 34, 987–991.Google Scholar Moorman, PG, Myers, ER, Schildkraut, JM, Iversen, ES, Wang, F, Warren, N (2011). Effect of hysterectomy with ovarian preservation on ovarian function. Obstetrics and Gynecology 118, 1271–1279.Google Scholar Nahas, E, Pontes, A, Traiman, P, NahasNeto, J, Dalben, I, De Luca, L (2003). Inhibin B and ovarian function after total abdominal hysterectomy in women of reproductive age. Gynecological Endocrinology 17, 125–131.Google Scholar National Health and Medical Research Council (2001). Australian Alcohol Guidelines: Health Risks and Benefits. Endorsed October 2001. Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra, AC.Google Scholar Parker, WH (2010). Bilateral oophorectomy versus ovarian conservation: effects on long-term women's health. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology 17, 161–166.Google Scholar Parker, WH, Jacoby, V, Shoupe, D, Rocca, W (2009). Effect of bilateral oophorectomy on women's long-term health. Womens Health (Lond Engl) 5, 565–576.Google Scholar Payne, JL, Palmer, JT, Joffe, H (2009). A reproductive subtype of depression: conceptualizing models and moving toward etiology. Harvard Review of Psychiatry 17, 72–86.Google Scholar Phipps, AI, Buist, DS (2009). Validation of self-reported history of hysterectomy and oophorectomy among women in an integrated group practice setting. Menopause 16, 576–581.Google Scholar Redburn, JC, Murphy, MF (2001). Hysterectomy prevalence and adjusted cervical and uterine cancer rates in England and Wales. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 108, 388–395.Google Scholar Rocca, WA, Grossardt, BR, Geda, YE, Gostout, BS, Bower, JH, Maraganore, DM, de Andrade, M, Melton, LJ III (2008). Long-term risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms after early bilateral oophorectomy. Menopause 15, 1050–1059.Google Scholar Rositch, AF, Nowak, RG, Gravitt, PE (2014). Increased age and race-specific incidence of cervical cancer after correction for hysterectomy prevalence in the United States from 2000 to 2009. Cancer 120, 2032–2038.Google Scholar Sarrel, PM, Sullivan, SD, Nelson, LM (2016). Hormone replacement therapy in young women with surgical primary ovarian insufficiency. Fertility and Sterility 106, 1580–1587.Google Scholar Soares, CN (2014). Mood disorders in midlife women: understanding the critical window and its clinical implications. Menopause 21, 198–206.Google Scholar Twisk, JWR (2013). Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis for Epidemiology. A Practical Guide, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar Whiteman, MK, Staropoli, CA, Benedict, JC, Borgeest, C, Flaws, JA (2003). Risk factors for hot flashes in midlife women. Journal of Womens Health (Larchmt) 12, 459–472.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed World Health Organisation Consultation on Obesity (1999). Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic: Report of a WHO Consultation. WHO: Geneva (CHE).Google Scholar Worsley, R, Bell, RJ, Gartoulla, P, Davis, SR (2016). Low use of effective and safe therapies for moderate to severe menopausal symptoms: a cross-sectional community study of Australian women. Menopause 23, 11–17.Google Scholar Xiangying, H, Lili, H, Yifu, S (2006). The effect of hysterectomy on ovarian blood supply and endocrine function. Climacteric 9, 283–289.Google Scholar Yelland, LN, Salter, AB, Ryan, P (2011). Performance of the modified Poisson regression approach for estimating relative risks from clustered prospective data. American Journal of Epidemiology 174, 984–992.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed Zou, G (2004). A modified poisson regression approach to prospective studies with binary data. American Journal of Epidemiology 159, 702–706.Google Scholar - 53 - Cited by

Text is read by the "Ask this paper" AI Q&A widget below. Extraction quality varies by source — PMC NXML preserves structure cleanly, OA-HTML may include some navigation residue, and OA-PDF can have broken hyphenation. The publisher copy (via DOI) is the canonical version.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

⚙ Ask this paper AI returns verbatim quotes from the full text · source: oa-doi-fallback ⓘ

Answers must be backed by verbatim quotes from this paper's full text. Hallucinated quotes are dropped automatically; if no verbatim passage answers the question, we say so. How this works

MeSH descriptors

Depression Hormone Replacement Therapy Hysterectomy Menopause Ovariectomy Australia Australia Depression Depression Depression Female Hormone Replacement Therapy Humans Hysterectomy Hysterectomy Incidence Longitudinal Studies Menopause Middle Aged Ovariectomy

Citation neighborhood (no data yet)

We don't have any in-corpus citations linked to this paper yet. The paper's references may be in our DB but unresolved to ``paper_id`` (resolution happens at ingest when the cited DOI matches a row we already have). Run the cross-source citation reconcile pass to retry.

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-10-18T09:30:06.152893+00:00
pubmed
last seen: 2026-10-12T06:15:57.134645+00:00
unpaywall
last seen: 2026-10-12T06:33:14.382917+00:00
License: CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0