Sexuality experiences of hysterectomized women

Alessandra Schmidt,Jacqueline Silveira De Quadros,Leticia Silveira Cardoso,Eliane Tatsch Neves,Graciela Dutra Sehnem,Aline Cammarano Ribeiro

doi:10.1590/2177-9465-ean-2019-0065

Alessandra Schmidt, Jacqueline Silveira De Quadros + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-9465-ean-2019-0065

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Abstract

Abstract Objective: To know the sexuality experiences of hysterectomized women. Method: Qualitative study carried out in Family Health Strategies with 19 hysterectomized women. A semi-structured interview was conducted, combined with the Creativity and Sensitivity Technique called Speaker Map, after approval by the Ethics Committee from January to February 2018. Data were analyzed according to analysis of the thematic content. Results: The participants had different sexuality experiences after the hysterectomy. The procedure was associated with restoration of health, resuming sexual activity, and changes in relationships. It was also related to the onset of dyspareunia and decrease in libido. Conclusion and implications for practice: The changes experienced after surgery led women to build new meanings for sexuality and their relationships. The surgery shows concrete results, such as decreased or increased pain in sexual practice, and subjective results, such as the feeling of freedom and the impact on female identity. These results may contribute to direct educational strategies to approach sexuality with each woman who undergoes hysterectomy.

Highlights

IntroductionThe main indications for this type of surgery include benign gynecological diseases, such as abnormal uterine bleeding and symptomatic uterine leiomyoma.[2] It can be performed vaginally, through abdominal incision, or by laparoscopic route, the latter in which the organ is removed through small incisions, which is a minimally invasive technique.[1]
Hysterectomy is the total removal of the uterus, when the uterus and cervix are removed, or partial removal, in which the cervix is kept, being considered the second most common gynecological surgery in the world among women in reproductive age.[1,2] With respect to Brazil, about 83 million hysterectomies were performed in 2014 and about 34 million of them were oncological surgeries.[3]The main indications for this type of surgery include benign gynecological diseases, such as abnormal uterine bleeding and symptomatic uterine leiomyoma.[2]
Females older than 18 years of age who underwent hysterectomy for more than six months were used as inclusion criteria to participate in the study in order to enable a longer experience of their sexuality after surgery

Summary

Introduction

The main indications for this type of surgery include benign gynecological diseases, such as abnormal uterine bleeding and symptomatic uterine leiomyoma.[2] It can be performed vaginally, through abdominal incision, or by laparoscopic route, the latter in which the organ is removed through small incisions, which is a minimally invasive technique.[1]. Removal of the uterus can be a difficult process to be faced by women, especially as it involves emotional, psychological, and cultural factors. The uterus, in addition to the biological function, has symbolic values related to femininity.[2,4] There are sensations and characteristics related to body perception that are common to women after surgery, among them, feeling awkward and change in the body image, the feeling of mutilation of their body, emptiness, and feeling different from other women.[4]

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