[Psychological and sexual acceptance of vaginal hysterectomy for sterilization (author's transl)]

Abstract

Psychological and sexual sequelae of hysterectomy were studied in 1007 cases between 1 1/2 and 8 years following the operation. Younger women had more often vaginal and older women more ofter abdominal hysterectomies. 78% of the patients thought they had been fully informed about the operation. 4.1% of the patients regretted the hysterectomy. 8% of the patients regretted the loss of menstruation. Most of these did not think they were fully informed. Full information on the type of operation can reduce negative postoperative sequelae. As many patients gained as lost weight following the hysterectomy. Postoperative coital difference did not show any relationship to the type of hysterectomy. In 57% of the cases, improvement occured one year later and in 10% of the cases improvement occurred 2 years later. Sexual relationships were not adversely affected by hysterectomy. Deterioration of the sexual relationship regarding libido and frequency of orgasms was a more frequent complaint in the control group. Improvement of libido and frequency of organsms can still occur 2 years following hysterectomy. Covert and overt depression was as frequent in the hysterectomized group as in the control group. The adverse effects of sterilization by tubal ligation were identical to those found in our group of hysterectomies according to the literature. Therefore we prefer vaginal hysterectomy for voluntary sterilization to tubal ligation.