[Total and subtotal hysterectomy--psychosexual aspects]

Surgery on genital organs is taken with anxiousness and leads generally to a temporary impairment of sexual function. Sexual life after hysterectomy is possible. Intercourse, sexual desire and orgasmic capacity are as a rule not negatively changed and in a great part even improved. Through discussion (during pre-operative consultancy and at the time of discharge and follow-up examinations) that also deals with the sexual function, lasting or chronic sexual disturbances can be largely avoided. The incidence of psychosomatic disturbances which also influence sexual behavior is then under 10%: they are projected onto the operation and have intra-psychic or psycho-social roots that are independent of it. A certain method of hysterectomy cannot have any decisive significance with regard to the capacity to experience sexual pleasure. An all-too-local/genital approach deflects us from our understanding of the orgasm, as the latter is a central experience in which extra-genital and, above all, psychological factors also play an important part.