Verbetering van het seksueel welbevinden na vaginale, subtotale en totale abdominale hysterectomie in een prospectief observationeel onderzoek

To compare the effects of vaginal, subtotal abdominal and total abdominal hysterectomy on sexual well-being.

Design

Prospective multi-centre study.

Methods

Before and six months after surgery, 413 women who underwent hysterectomy in 13 teaching and non-teaching hospitals throughout the Netherlands for benign disease (other than uterine prolapse or endometriosis) were asked to complete the ‘Questionnaire on sexual dysfunctions’. This is a validated, disease-specific questionnaire that measures the presence of and experienced hindrance due to sexual problems, the frequency of intercourse and the general satisfaction with regard to sexual activity.

Results

The satisfaction with sexual activity improved, independent of the surgical technique. Bothersome sexual problems developed after vaginal hysterectomy, subtotal abdominal hysterectomy and total abdominal hysterectomy in 23, 24 and 19 of the patients, respectively (χ² test; p = 0.80). Bothersome sexual problems persisted in 59, 54 and 56 of the patients, respectively (χ² test; p = 0.85) who had experienced at least one bothersome sexual problem pre-operatively.

Conclusion

Sexual well-being improved after hysterectomy, independent of the surgical technique used.