Women's existencial movement after hysterectomy: their fears, possibilities and decisions - contributions to gynecologic nursing

temor, possibilidade e decisão - contribuições para a enfermagem ginecológica

Abstract

This article approaches women's daily existencial dimension after hysterectomy. It is a qualitative study with phenomenologic approach and Martin Heidegger's ideas were used as theoretician-methodologic referencial. It aims to show the meaning given by women to hysterectomy in their daily life, describing the fact since the experience in order to reach its essence, not the biological one but the existencial dimension. Twenty-two women who underwent hysterectomy were interviewed at UFJF/MG University Hospital during the first semester of 2006. The analysis and hermeneutics showed that: women feared the worsening of the gynecological problem; healing was seen as a possible solution to some problems; and women were decided to take care of themselves not only by following the doctor's instructions but also in different ways. They insisted on the the fact that healthcare is something punctual and not integral.