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Sexual functioning after total versus subtotal laparoscopic hysterectomy

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

Abstract

Aim

To evaluate postoperative sexual functioning and the influence of patients’ expectations on the change in sexuality following laparoscopic total (TLH) versus subtotal hysterectomy (LASH).

Methods

A total of 120 women undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy were preoperatively enrolled in this bicentric prospective study. Sexual functioning (SF) was evaluated using the female sexual function index (FSFI). Additionally, participants filled in a standardised questionnaire concerning expected changes in SF after surgery. At 3, 6 and 12 months following surgery, women were asked again to assess their level of SF (FSFI). Data of women who participated in at least one FSFI follow-up assessment were analysed (n = 92). We compared the change in SF after surgery between patients with TLH (n = 46) and LASH (n = 46). Additionally, we calculated regression analyses with the patients’ expectations as a predictor for change in FSFI scores.

Results

Comparing the change of FSFI scores after surgery in both collectives revealed differences only 3 months after surgery, as improvement was stronger for the LASH collective compared to the THL group (p = 0.006). There were no changes comparing collectives after 6 (p = 0.663) and 12 (p = 0.326) months. Concerning patientsʼ expectations, for the LASH group baseline SF (p < 0.001), but not expectations (p = 0.567) predicted the strength of change at each of the follow ups: a lower level of baseline SF was linked to a stronger improvement after surgery. For the THL collective, both baseline SF (p < 0.001) as well as patients’ expectations (3 months: p = 0.077, 6 months: p = 0.37, 12 months: p = 0.024) predicted the strength of change: both, a lower level of baseline SF and higher expectations towards an improvement predicted a stronger improvement.

Conclusion

The preservation of the cervix does not show an advantage in improving SF after surgery. Both methods induce a comparable improvement in long-time SF, especially in patients with an impaired sexuality pre-surgery. Furthermore, patients’ expectations concerning this matter seem to have an impact on the postoperative outcome; therefore, this circumstance should be considered in future projects.

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Funding

There was no funding for this study.

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Author notes

  1. Sebastian Berlit and Benjamin Tuschy contributed equally.

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, Benjamin Tuschy, Anne Wuhrer, Anna-Theresa Kircher, Marc Sütterlin & Amadeus Hornemann

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

    Stefanie Lis

  3. Ambulatory Day Clinic Altonaer Strasse, Hamburg, Germany

    Sven Jürgens & Olaf Buchweitz

Authors
  1. Sebastian Berlit
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  2. Benjamin Tuschy
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  3. Anne Wuhrer
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  4. Sven Jürgens
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  5. Olaf Buchweitz
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  6. Anna-Theresa Kircher
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  7. Marc Sütterlin
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  8. Stefanie Lis
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  9. Amadeus Hornemann
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Contributions

SB project development, manuscript writing, BT data collection, manuscript editing, AW data collection, SJ data collection, OB data collection, ATK data collection, MS manuscript editing, SL data analysis, AH data collection, manuscript editing, project development.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amadeus Hornemann.

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All authors declare to have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

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

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Berlit, S., Tuschy, B., Wuhrer, A. et al. Sexual functioning after total versus subtotal laparoscopic hysterectomy. Arch Gynecol Obstet 298, 337–344 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4812-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4812-7

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