The effect of myoma uteri and myomectomy on sexual function.
BACKGROUND
This is a report about the effects of myoma uteri and myomectomy on sexual function in women.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this article was to determine the effects of myoma uteri and myomectomy on sexual function in women.


METHODS
The study was designed as a controlled clinical study in an academic clinical research center. The study patients consisted of 80 women with myoma uteri and 75 control women. Baseline characteristics and properties of the myomas were recorded. A validated questionnaire was used to determine pre- and postoperative sexual function in the patients.


METHODS
Female sexual function index (FSFI) scores of the women were recorded before and after surgery.


RESULTS
Women with myoma uteri had lower FSFI pain and satisfaction scores than women without it, even after correction for possible confounders. Fundal and posterior myomas were associated with pain, whereas only posterior myomas were related to the overall FSFI scores. However, although there was no relation between the volume of the myomas and the FSFI scores, women with a uterine volume over 200 cm(3) had significantly lower mean FSFI satisfaction, pain, and total scores. The mean FSFI pain and total scores of the patients improved significantly after undergoing a myomectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that a potential impairment of sexual function exists in women with myomas. This is mainly because of pain during sexual intercourse, although it does not seem to have an effect on either the arousal or orgasmic phases. Furthermore, the performance of a myomectomy may alleviate pain during intercourse, and thereby improve sexual function in the patients.
Ertunc
Devrim
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mersin University, School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey. Electronic address: devrimertunc@hotmail.com.
Uzun
Roza
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mersin University, School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey.
Tok
Ekrem C
EC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mersin University, School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey.
Doruk
Arzu
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mersin University, School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey.
Dilek
Saffet
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mersin University, School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey.
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D009214:Myoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*