[Sex life following hysterectomy]

The authors report on the results of an inquiry via questionnaires on the sexual activities of 164 hysterectomised women before and after surgery. 47.5 per cent of the women stated that their sexual activities had deteriorated after the operation, whereas 13% reported an improvement. There was a significant increase in the number of women with "deteriorated" sex life after simultaneous bilateral ovarectomy (p less than 0.01). The most frequent negative sequels were a decrease in sexual appetency (42.7%) and coital activity (30.5%). Sex life deterioration became evident in 43% of the women already during the first year following the operation, further deterioration being less marked (in one to three years in 52%, and after more than 3 years after the operation in 58% of the patients). The opinion has been voiced that the time a few months before and after hysterectomy is the most critical phase in respect of mental condition and sexual activities. This critical phase can be overcome only with the close co-operation between the doctor on the one hand and the married couple on the other; both partners to the marriage must be equally amenable to counselling and advice.