title: Sexual response in the patient after hysterectomy: total abdominal versus supracervical versus vaginal procedure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study examines the patient's own appraisal of her sexual responsiveness after hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred women who had undergone hysterectomy within a 3-year period were selected randomly and asked to respond to a questionnaire that was devised to ascertain the patient's own objective evaluation of self-image, sexuality, and sexual response before and after hysterectomy. The confidential responses were analyzed, noting the presence of any significant divergence between demographic and procedural cohorts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 126 respondents, 48.4% underwent total abdominal hysterectomy; 34.1% underwent vaginal hysterectomy, and 17.4% underwent supracervical hysterectomy. The mean patient age was 49.7+/-8.7 years. No direct correlation was found between hysterectomy type and age. Most women did not report any significant deterioration in mental attitude after the procedure (P =.788). Self and body image also remained consistent, with only 25.3% indicating a change for the worse. Only 10.3% of respondents felt less feminine after hysterectomy; nearly 70% of the respondents did not feel less feminine. Responses that pertained to libido, sexual activity, or feelings of femininity did not reveal significant changes (P >.05). Satisfaction with procedural choice was positive (54.8%), with only 7.1% responding unfavorably.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The responses suggest that neither self-image nor sexuality need diminish after hysterectomy. The type of hysterectomy that was performed did not appear to affect the attitudes of the respondents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Roussis
authors.forename: Leone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Waltrous
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Robertazzi
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cabbad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001828:Body Image; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D007813:Laparotomy; D007989:Libido / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm / Q000502:physiology*; D011336:Probability; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires