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Postoperative sexual functioning in total versus subtotal laparoscopic hysterectomy: what do women expect?

  • General Gynecology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate sexual functioning and expected changes in sexual functioning in women with planned total versus subtotal laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Methods

A total of 120 women undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy were preoperatively enrolled in this study with a cross-sectional design. Full data sets were available for 112 patients, so that 56 patients with planned total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and 56 women with planned laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LASH) were preoperatively assessed. Sexual functioning was evaluated using the female sexual function index (FSFI). Additionally, participants filled in a standardised questionnaire concerning expected changes on sexual function after the procedure. Demographic parameters, expectations concerning postoperative sexuality and FSFI scores were analysed and compared in women undergoing TLH and LASH.

Results

There were no significant differences concerning demographic parameters and FSFI scores comparing collectives. Sexuality in general was considered more important in women undergoing LASH (2.88 ± 0.83 vs. 2.48 ± 0.89; p = 0.011). Also, in 29 patients (52%) opting for LASH and 8 (14%) patients undergoing TLH a potential change in postoperative sexuality had an impact on their choice for a subtotal/total hysterectomy, respectively (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Patients’ expectations concerning preservation of the cervix and postoperative sexuality appear to have the potential to bias investigations comparing total with subtotal hysterectomy. Hence, future research focusing on this issue should be accomplished incorporating patients’ expectations stratified by mode of intervention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany

    Sebastian Berlit, Amadeus Hornemann, Marc Sütterlin & Benjamin Tuschy

  2. Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

    Stefanie Lis

  3. Day Clinic Altonaer Strasse, Hamburg, Germany

    Sven Jürgens & Olaf Buchweitz

Authors
  1. Sebastian Berlit
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  2. Stefanie Lis
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  3. Sven Jürgens
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  4. Olaf Buchweitz
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  5. Amadeus Hornemann
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  6. Marc Sütterlin
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  7. Benjamin Tuschy
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Contributions

SB: Data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing. SL: Data analysis, manuscript editing. SJ: Data collection. OB: Data collection. AH Project development, Data collection. MS: Manuscript editing. BT: Projekt development, data analysis, manuscript writing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benjamin Tuschy.

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Funding

no funding.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee II of the Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University (2012-602 N-MA). The study is registered in the German Clinical Trial Register (DKRS) with the clinical trials Registration Number: DRKS00004677.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Berlit, S., Lis, S., Jürgens, S. et al. Postoperative sexual functioning in total versus subtotal laparoscopic hysterectomy: what do women expect?. Arch Gynecol Obstet 296, 513–518 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4452-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4452-3

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