title: Sexual function in older women after oophorectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the sexual function of older women who had bilateral oophorectomy with that of older women who had retained their ovaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study involved analysis of 1,352 women aged 57 to 85 years from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Women with previous bilateral oophorectomy were compared with women who retained their ovaries. The primary outcome of interest was self-report of sexual ideation, chosen because having thoughts about sexual experiences is not prohibited by either a partner or a woman's own physical limitations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred fifty-six (25.8%) women reported previous bilateral oophorectomy. Our analysis achieved 90% power to detect a difference of 10% in sexual ideation. No significant difference in the report of sexual ideation was found between women with previous bilateral oophorectomy and women who retained their ovaries (54.5% and 95% confidence interval [CI] 48.1-61.0 compared with 49.9% and 95% CI 45.3-54.5, P=.230), even after adjusting for current hormone therapy, age, education, and race (adjusted odds ratio 1.32, 95% CI 0.96-1.80).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bilateral oophorectomy may not play a pivotal role in sexual ideation and function among older women.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA. elisabeth.erekson@yale.edu
authors.forename: Elisabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Erekson
authors.forename: Deanna K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Kejia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ciarleglio
authors.forename: Divya A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Marsha K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Guess
authors.forename: Elena S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ratner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D057566:Self Report; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*