Risk estimates of hysterectomy and selected conditions commonly treated with hysterectomy

PURPOSE: This study presents corrected rates and probability (risk) estimates of experiencing a hysterectomy and of selected conditions commonly treated with hysterectomy. METHODS: Analyses are based on hysterectomy prevalence data from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (calendar years 2000-2006), hysterectomy incidence data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey (2001-2005), and population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau (2001-2005). The correction involved removing those women without a uterus from the denominator in the rate calculation. RESULTS: Corrected hysterectomy incidence rates per 1000 women were greater than the uncorrected rates for women ages 18-44 years (6.0 vs. 5.0), 45-64 years (10.4 vs. 7.1), and 65 years and older (4.9 vs. 2.6). Correcting the rates had a comparatively larger impact in the South. Incidence rates of selected conditions associated with the female reproductive system were greater after correction for hysterectomy prevalence. For example, corrected compared with uncorrected rates of uterine fibroids per 1000 women were 2.9 vs. 2.7 for ages 18-44 and 5.0 vs. 3.4 for ages 45-64. The uncorrected and corrected 10-year risk of being diagnosed with uterine fibroids among women aged 50 who have not previously had fibroids is 3.87 (1 in 26) and 4.54 (1 in 22), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The correction method employed produces greater incidence and age-conditional-risk estimates of hysterectomy and of conditions commonly treated with hysterectomy. Corrected rates and age-conditional risk estimates may allow women with intact uteri to better assess their probability of undergoing a hysterectomy and certain other conditions of the reproductive system.