To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Women Seek Alternative To Hysterectomy For Bleeding Problems URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/3A84A.htm Doctor's Guide September 26, 1997
SEATTLE, WA. -- September 26, 1997 -- Most women oppose hysterectomy and hormone therapy for treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), according to a major new study by researchers at RAND, the University of California in Los Angeles and Sepulveda VA Medical Center. The detailed telephone survey of more than 600 women found women are overwhelmingly seeking an AUB treatment that leads to a quick recovery and requires no large incisions or long-term hormones. A majority of respondents said they were opposed to hysterectomy, a common AUB treatment that removes a woman's uterus and sometimes her ovaries. Hysterectomy requires large incisions, a recovery period of four to six weeks and, if the ovaries are removed, long-term hormone therapy. The researchers, who conducted telephone interviews of more than 600 women aged 35 to 55 in the northeastern and southern United States, presented their findings at the annual meeting of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL), in Seattle. Researcher Joseph Gambone, D.O., said women had little knowledge of outpatient endometrial resection and ablation (OPERA), an outpatient surgical treatment for AUB that preserves a woman's organs and does not require hormone therapy. But, Gambone added, a majority of those in the study indicated a preference for such an alternative. "Women can describe what they want; it sounds a lot like OPERA, which is efficacious and doesn't involve removal of the uterus or the use of hormones. OPERA and OPERA-like procedures are things that women seek," Gambone said. A physician consultant to the RAND research firm, Gambone is a gynecologic surgeon and directs the fertility program at the UCLA School of Medicine. The typical OPERA patient returns to normal activities in one to four days. Clinical studies over the past 10 years have shown the procedure to be successful in eliminating or greatly reducing bleeding in 85 percent of cases. AUB is a common condition that affects an estimated 10 million American women -- nine to 14 percent of the female population over age 25. There are an estimated 750,000 hysterectomies performed each year in the United States, making hysterectomy the second most common major surgery on women. In a related article published in this month's issue of the Journal of Gynecologic Techniques, the California researchers discuss AUB focus group interviews involving about 50 women and 10 physicians. The article reports discrepancies between what women want and what physicians think they want, with some physicians underestimating women's strong desire to be involved in treatment decisions. "Many practicing physicians believe that most patients still want to be told what is best for them," said Brian Mittman, Ph.D., a RAND and VA researcher. "One of the gynecologists in a focus group actually said, 'Sometimes I think my patients want to go to sleep and wake up with their hair done and their hysterectomy done, too.'" The survey and focus groups, however, documented women's strong interest in being involved in AUB treatment decisions. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.