title: Uterine myomas, dyspareunia, and sexual function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of deep dyspareunia (DD) and characteristics of sexual life in women with uterine myomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred seven sexually active premenopausal women who underwent surgery because of uterine myomas (group M, n = 132), uterine myomas and ovarian cysts (group MC, n = 84), ovarian cysts (group C, n = 67), and tubal sterilization (group S, n = 24). Exclusion criteria were as follows: endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, interstitial cystitis, and preoperative treatment with GnRH analogues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Before surgery, patients underwent transvaginal ultrasound; number and characteristics of myomas were recorded.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence and intensity of DD were determined. Patients completed a sexual-function questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients included in the four groups had similar DD prevalence and DD intensity. No significant difference was observed in DD prevalence and pain intensity according to the number, position, and size of myomas. Deep dyspareunia intensity was higher in women with fundal and anterior myomas than in those with other myoma positions. No significant difference was observed in sexual function among the four study groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with uterine myomas do not have increased prevalence or severity of DD; their sexual function is not impaired.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Martino Hospital and University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. simone.ferrero@fastwebnet.it
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: Luiza Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Abbamonte
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ragni
authors.forename: Valentino
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Remorgida
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D017697:Premenopause; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery