Indications for gynecologic surgery and their implications for sexual function in menopausal women

To determine the indications for gynecologic surgery and the effect of surgery on dyspareunia and sexual intercourse frequency in menopausal women in Accra, Ghana.

Women who had gynecologic surgery between January 2005 and December 2007 were invited for an interview about dyspareunia and frequency of intercourse before and after surgery.

Of the 93 women interviewed who underwent hysterectomy, 29 (31.1%) had dyspareunia before surgery and 13 (14.0%) after (P=0.006). Of the 65 women who had benign tumors, before surgery 26 (40%) were sexually active, while after surgery 43 (66%) were sexually active (P=0.001). However, frequency of intercourse did not change for those with malignancies. The mean frequency of intercourse before surgery was 2.11 per week, compared with 2.46 per week after surgery (P=0.50).

Gynecologic surgery reduced dyspareunia. More women became sexually active following surgery for benign but not malignant tumors, but the mean overall frequency of intercourse did not change significantly in the interviewed population.