The Impact of Diagnosis of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection and Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia 3 (CIN3) on Women's Sexual Lives

Maria Teresa Bruno; Giuseppe Caruso; Elena Torrisi; Raffaela Grimaldi; Biagio Abate; Francesco Saverio Luciani; Susanna Basile; Marco Marzio Panella

doi:10.3390/diagnostics14090911

The Impact of Diagnosis of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection and Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia 3 (CIN3) on Women's Sexual Lives

Diagnostics (Basel). 2024 Apr 27;14(9):911. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics14090911.

Authors

Maria Teresa Bruno^{1

2}, Giuseppe Caruso¹, Elena Torrisi¹, Raffaela Grimaldi¹, Biagio Abate¹, Francesco Saverio Luciani³, Susanna Basile⁴, Marco Marzio Panella^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, Gynecological Clinic, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
² Multidisciplinary Research Center in Papillomavirus Pathology, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
³ Methods and Models Department for the Economy, Territory and Finance, La Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
⁴ Psychologist and Clinical Sexologist, 95123 Catania, Italy.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess sexual health in women who underwent Loop Electrosurgical Excisional Procedure (LEEP) for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN 3). One hundred thirty-one women were enrolled, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire was administered before LEEP and 6 months after the procedure. In almost all of the participants, data revealed a statistically significant worsening in sexual quality of life after LEEP. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of these possible negative effects on sexual behavior, and provide women with appropriate, wide-ranging, and detailed counseling. The data obtained in the present study should help to plan appropriate counseling from communicating HPV diagnosis and medical treatment to CIN3 surgical procedure.

Keywords: LEEP; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; human papillomavirus; quality of life; sexual health.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.