title: Postoperative Quality of Life and Sexual Function in Premenopausal Women Undergoing Laparoscopic Myomectomy for Symptomatic Fibroids: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign gynecologic tumors. To date laparoscopy myomectomy is the gold standard for treatment of symptomatic fibroids in reproductive-aged women. Detailed counseling about the effects of this procedure on postoperative sexuality and quality of life is important in these patients. However, available data on these subjects are limited and contradictory. The aim of this study was to assess sexual function and quality of life in premenopausal women undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy for symptomatic uterine fibroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  All premenopausal women who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy for symptomatic fibroids between April 2012 and August 2014 at a tertiary university center were enrolled in this prospective observational cohort study. Sexual function and quality of life were assessed for the pre- and postoperative (six months post-operatively) state using two validated questionnaires, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the European Quality of Life Five-Dimension Scale (EQ-5D).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-five of the 115 (83%) eligible patients completed the study. Overall a significant improvement in quality of life and sexual function was observed in the study cohort: Median FSFI (28 (18.7-35.2)) and EQ-5D scores (1 (0.61-1) after laparoscopic myomectomy were significantly higher than preoperative scores (21.2 (5.2-33.5); 0.9 (0.2-1); p ≤ 0.01). The number, position and localization of the largest fibroids were not correlated with pre- or postoperative sexual function or quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic myomectomy might have positive short-term effects on postoperative quality of life and sexual function in premenopausal women suffering from symptomatic fibroids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia Caroline
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Radosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Dresden University Hospital, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph Georg
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Radosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Russalina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mavrova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology & Medical Informatics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagenpfeil
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamza
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Joukhadar
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Charite Berlin, Berlin/Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karsten
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingolf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Juhasz-Boess
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Erich-Franz
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Solomayer
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc Philipp
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Radosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D063186:Uterine Myomectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*