Comparison of prevalence of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in women after five different hysterectomy procedures

Abstract

Objective: The advantages of the various methods used for hysterectomy are currently a topic of debate, and there is particular controversy over whether the cervix should be left in situ or not. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) after five different hysterectomy procedures.

Study design: The Brief Profile of Female Sexual Function (B-PFSF) score was measured to compare postoperative prevalence of HSDD after the different surgical procedures. The questionnaire was sent to 590 women who had undergone hysterectomy between 2002 and 2007 for benign conditions. The following procedures were performed: abdominal hysterectomy (AH), vaginal hysterectomy (VH), laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LASH), and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH).

Results: A total of 304 questionnaires returned and 258 were found to be eligible for analysis. The mean follow-up intervals were 2 years for women after LASH and TLH and 3 years for women after AH, VH, and LAVH. The women in the AH group were significantly older than those in the LASH group, and the women in the VH group were significantly older than those in the LASH or TLH groups. The median B-PFSF score was highest at 26 in women after LASH, 25 in women after TLH, 23 in women after LAVH, 23.5 in women after VH, and 21 in women after AH. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups.

Conclusions: No differences were observed using the B-PFSF score with regard to the prevalence of HSDD after hysterectomy, irrespective of the surgical technique used.