What would be the effect on age-specific incidence rates if women with hysterectomies were excluded from the denominator of calculations, assuming that there are some women in each age group who have had hysterectomies? [ONE POINT]
a. the rates would remain the same
b. the rates would tend to decrease
c. the rates would tend to increase
d. the rates would increase in older groups and decrease in younger groups
e. it cannot be determined whether the rates would increase or decrease