Approximately 600000 hysterectomies...

Approximately 600000 hysterectomies are performed in the United States annually, with more than united fourth of them being performed in succession women younger than 60 years. Hysterectomy is a major surgical action with risks and potential long-term effects Although almost one half of women who sustain hysterectomy are concerned about postoperative changes in sexual function, hardly any patients discuss these concerns with their physician. The Maryland Women's Health close attention found that women who had undergone hysterectomy had an increased common occurrence of sexual relationships, less dyspareunia, and no change in orgasmic frequent occurrence The study did not explore the patients' meditations or concerns of sexual relations after hysterectomy. Dragisic and Milad evaluated sexual function and patients' expectations of sexual function after hysterectomy.

listed in the study were 75 women at the Prentice Women's Hospital of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago who were scheduled for hysterectomy for benign disease between May 2002 and April 2003 During their hospital stay, the women were interviewed on a study researcher. Questions were asked concerning their sexual function, their expectations of sexual function after the act and whether their physician had discussed sexual function after the hysterectomy. The questions concerning sexual function were repeated approximately six month after the procedure

Before the performance 53 percent of the women anticipateed no change in sexual desire, 76 percent awaited no change in orgasm oftenness and 67 percent expected no change in orgasm impregnability When comparing the answers about sexual functioning at the time of the course with the answers six month after the act there were no significant differences between frequent occurrence of sexual function or orgasmic reply The women did report a significant reduction in pain with intercourse after hysterectomy, with a relative risk of 534 Almost the same half of the patients had discussed with their physician the impact that hysterectomy might have in succession their sexual function, and 65 percent stated that they had initiated the discussion.

The authors finish that most patients who bear hysterectomy have no change in sexual desire, orgasm commonness or orgasm intensity. Patients in the consideration reported having less pain with intercourse after the procedure

Dragisic KG Milad MP Sexual functioning and patient expectations of sexual functioning after hysterectomy. Am J Obstet Gynecol May 2004;190:1416-8

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians

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