Table 2.
Patient characteristics and reported bothersome sexual problems before hysterectomy of 310 patients who were sexually active before and after hysterectomy, according to type of surgery. Values are numbers (percentages) of patients unless stated otherwise
| Characteristic | Vaginal hysterectomy (n=89) | Subtotal abdominal hysterectomy (n=76) | Total abdominal hysterectomy (n=145) | P value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient Characteristics | ||||
| Mean (SD) age (years) | 43.1 (5.3) | 43.4 (5.5) | 44.4 (6.3) | 0.20† |
| Mean (SD) No of children | 2.1 (0.8) | 1.9 (1.1) | 1.9 (1.2) | 0.16† |
| Mean (SD) body mass index (kg/m2) | 25.6 (4.1) | 24.8 (3.9) | 25.5 (4.0) | 0.40† |
| Mean (SD) maximum diameter of uterus (cm) | 8.1 (1.4) | 10.2 (3.8) | 11.0 (3.4) | <0.01† |
| Mean (SD) prolapse of uterus (cm)‡ | −2.7 (1.9) | −6.0 (2.4) | −6.6 (2.4) | <0.01† |
| Indication for hysterectomy§: | ||||
| Menorrhagia | 63 (71) | 60 (79) | 88 (61) | 0.03 |
| Metrorrhagia | 38 (43) | 18 (24) | 38 (26) | 0.01 |
| Abdominal pain | 17 (19) | 31 (41) | 48 (33) | 0.01 |
| Dysmenorrhoea | 25 (28) | 22 (29) | 31 (21) | 0.30 |
| Other | 12 (13) | 4 (5) | 11 (8) | 0.15 |
| Premenopausal | 78 (88) | 68 (89) | 130 (90) | 0.92 |
| History of abdominal surgery | 34 (38) | 31 (41) | 55 (38) | 0.89 |
| Comorbidity | 34 (38) | 12 (17) | 49 (35) | 0.09 |
| Mean (SD) duration of relationship with partner (years) | 20.0 (8.2) | 19.0 (9.3) | 20.5 (9.0) | 0.57† |
| Frequency of sexual activity | ||||
| Once a month or less | 16 (18) | 12 (16) | 34 (23) | |
| Once a week to once a month | 44 (49) | 37 (49) | 69 (48) | 0.43 |
| More than once a week | 29 (33) | 27 (35) | 42 (29) | |
| Bothersome sexual problems before hysterectomy | ||||
| Problems with lubrication | 25 (28) | 22 (29) | 39 (27) | 0.96 |
| Problems with orgasm | 27 (30) | 23 (30) | 35 (24) | 0.61 |
| Problems with genital pain | 26 (29) | 16 (21) | 45 (31) | 0.31 |
| Problems with sensation in genitals | 6 (7) | 9 (12) | 13 (9) | 0.52 |
| Problems with arousal | 30 (34) | 26 (34) | 44 (30) | 0.82 |
| Any sexual problem present | 49 (55) | 43 (57) | 81 (56) | 1.00 |
*
χ2 test.
†
Calculated with analysis of variance.
‡
Measured under anaesthesia by pulling down cervix with forceps.
§
Not mutually exclusive.