[Sex life after radical operations for cervical cancer]

75 sexual active women with invasive cervical carcinoma up to 55 years of age were treated by radical hysterectomy, part of them also with postoperative irradiation. Of primary interest were interviews with those 57 women (87,7%) whose marital relationship was not disturbed in the postoperative phase. No harmony in the partnership was found in 7,7%, manifestation occurred within 1 year after treatment. The causes were in many cases of psychosomatic nature. Reduced libido was found in 60,8%, 62,0% had their first sexual relationship within 3 months after treatment. No orgasm was reported before operation by 7,6%, by 23% after operation. 57,7% had sexual climax always or mostly after treatment. Reduced orgasm was rare in those women, whose partnership was not disturbed. Frequency of cohabitations was reduced. 11,5% reported preoperative painful coitus, 50,8% postoperative. The interviews of women by means of standardized questionnaires should become a routine measure within the rehabilitation and postoperative control program of gynecologic cancer patients. The establishment of self-help groups is recommended in order to control also the psychosocial components of the disease.