Growing Concerns about Hysterectomies

Since last year there is a growing concern over Hysterectomy being performed over women mostly poor women in India. Hysterectomies are elective surgeries that are sometimes recommended for women 35 years and older to treat symptoms like uterine fibroids and post-menopausal bleeding.

Background

• Hysterectomies have been reported largely from rural pockets of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, especially in the last six years.
• Chittorgarh based Narendra Gupta of Prayas had moved a PIL in the Supreme Court in 2012. He had stated that the total number of hysterectomies in India is lower than in the West. But it is alarming that 30-32 is the average age group of women undergoing the procedure here, while in the West post-menopausal hysterectomy is common. This makes the situation to be taken under control.
• Private hospitals are considered to be hand in glove with diagnostic centres that would do a sonography, give the report in an hour, and conclude that the uterus is about to become cancerous.

Hysterectomy is rampant amongst poor

Poverty coupled with illiteracy is the main reason behind rural poor women to undergo hysterectomy. The doctors are able to play with the psyche of the individual and convince the poor ladies to even undergo hysterectomy for simple white discharge, irregular menstrual cycles and even abdominal pain.

The doctors create a fear psychosis in their minds that if not operated, there would be chances of cancer.

Lastly, loss of daily wages during menstruation also makes the prospect of undergoing hysterectomy more appealing to poor rural ladies.

Problems associated with Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy might be considered a boon for many, but it is coupled with many side effects which even doctors would be hiding from patients:

• It disturbs hormonal balance of body, especially removal of ovaries. Increases risk of bloating and water retention by body.
• It increases the risk of heart attack and other diseases as female hormone oestrogen protects women from it. Ovaries should preferably be retained by every woman at least till 65 years of age.
• It increases chances of breast cancer

Hysterectomy and Medical Tourism

India is becoming a hub for foreign patients coming for various medical treatments and surgeries including the Hysterectomy Surgery. The reason behind this is that the hospitals and medical centers in India are hygienic, and maintain the highest quality of medical services and amenities making the country most preferred destination in the world. Besides this, the cost at which hysterectomy can be done is another reason which attracts patients from abroad to choose India as destination.

Conclusion

This practice is definitely a sign of “human rights violation”. Health activists are of the opinion that it is high time that the government takes strong action.  Hysterectomies cause physical and emotional damage to women. There is a definite need for a regulation like in the case of the PCPNDT (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act) that doesn’t allow an ultrasound without proper documentation.

It is a welcome move wherein The National Family Health Survey-4 included a question on hysterectomies. This fact sheet will be the first comprehensive data on the worrying trend.

Finally, it would be advisable to take the suggestion put forward by The OXFAM report, which stated that India should end its public-private partnership programmes, that allows poor women with government insurance plan to undergo a hysterectomy in private hospitals uncles and  until better regulation is in place.