Introduction: Stoma surgery may reduce the quality of life, including sex life. A literature review was undertaken to explore what factors impact on the sexual health and sexuality of people with a stoma.
Methodology: A review of the literature was undertaken using the online databases Cochrane, PsychInfo, Embase and Pubmed. The search was limited to articles on colostomates and ileostomates in the English language that were peer-reviewed and written in the past 5 years.
Results: Intestinal stoma surgery affects many aspects of a patient's life, including body image, relationship with a partner and quality of sex life. The introduction of perioperative educational programmes for patients qualified for ostomy surgery and their relatives will provide the necessary support in the face of physical and mental difficulties that may be associated with the procedure.
Keywords: quality of life; quality of sex life; reproductive health; stoma surgery.