Not the surgery for a young person: women's experience with vaginal closure surgery for severe prolapse.
BACKGROUND
Vaginal prolapse can be debilitating, due to pelvic organ prolapse and herniation of the bladder, uterus, intestines and/or support tissues in the vaginal opening. However, there is little published information that documents women's experiences in the months and years after surgery to correct prolapse.


OBJECTIVE
This phenomenologic study aimed to increase understanding of the specific experiences that patients report after vaginal closure surgery.


METHODS
Participants were recruited via a mailing to surgical patients from a large urogynecologic practice. Semi-structured interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed for analysis.


RESULTS
Six women participated in the study. After analyzing the results, five major themes emerged: awareness and confusion, feeling alone in silence, trusting recommendation, acceptance of changed sexuality, and still coping.


CONCLUSIONS
This small study shows that vaginal closure affects an intimate body part and can impact self-image, but the women did not regret their changed sexuality. The larger issues for these women were ones of communication, information, and isolation, particularly during their followup care.
O'Dell
Katharine K
KK
University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA, USA.
Jacelon
Cynthia S
CS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D010570:Pessaries; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology; D012752:Shame; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*