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Gynaecological operations: do they improve sexual life?
Tanja Ghielmetti1, Peter Kuhn, Ekkehard F Dreher
1Urogynaecology, Frauenklinik, Inselspital Bern, Switzerland.
Summary
Gynaecological surgeries impact sexual function, with prolapse repairs potentially worsening it, while hysterectomies may improve sexual outcomes. More validated research is needed to confirm these effects.
Area of Science:
- Gynecological Surgery
- Sexual Health
- Medical Literature Review
Background:
- Gynaecological operations are common procedures for various conditions.
- The impact of these surgeries on patients' sexual function is a significant concern.
- Existing literature lacks comprehensive, validated data on surgical effects on sexual health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the Medline literature on the effects of gynaecological operations on sexual function.
- To analyze and compare postoperative sexual outcomes across different types of gynaecological surgeries.
- To identify gaps in the current research regarding validated assessment methods.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a Medline literature search using specific keywords related to gynaecological surgery and sexual function.
- Included 36 articles encompassing 4534 patients, excluding review articles.
- Categorized surgeries into four groups: prolapse/incontinence, prolapse only, incontinence only, and hysterectomy.
Main Results:
- Prolapse operations, especially posterior repair with levator plication, appear to negatively affect sexual function.
- Incontinence procedures may also have a detrimental effect on sexual function.
- Hysterectomy, regardless of type (subtotal or total), seems to improve sexual function.
Conclusions:
- Gynaecological operations demonstrably influence sexual function.
- There is a notable scarcity of studies employing validated questionnaires to assess sexual outcomes.
- Further research with robust methodologies is essential to provide reliable evidence on surgical impacts on sexual health.
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