Sexuality after total abdominal hysterectomy in Srinagarind Hospital.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects on sexuality after Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH) in north-eastern Thai women. DESIGN Prospective descriptive study. SETTING Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University from December 2004 to May 2006. MATERIAL AND METHOD 80 married women, equal or less than 45 years old, which indicated for TAH with or without unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. All patients had to attend the first questionnaire before surgery. The second and third questionnaires would be collected by mail in 3 and 6 months after surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Frequency of dyspareunia, sexual desire, coitus, masturbation, and the quality of sexuality after TAH. RESULTS The frequency of dyspareunia was decreased from 91.25% before TAH to 5% in 6 months after TAH (95% CI 1.19-1.61, p < 0.05). The frequency of sexual desire was increased from 55% before TAH to 88.75% in 6 months (95% CI 0.22-0.61, p < 0.05). The frequency of coitus was increased from 38.75% before TAH to 96.25% in 6 months after TAH (95% CI 0.54-0.98, p < 0.05). Normal sexual relations were increased from 53.8% before TAH to 85% in 6 months after TAH (95% CI 0.20-0.47, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Sexuality was significantly improved overall after TAH and these might be the strong positive effects of TAH on sexual function.