Hysterectomy for carcinoma in situ and sexual function

Forty-four multiparous women treated for carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix were interviewed more than 1 year later to establish the effects of vaginal hysterectomy on sexual function. Thirty-eight women received a total vaginal hysterectomy and partial vaginectomy and six women received a total vaginal hysterectomy only. The patients were further subdivided into an age 30 to 49 subgroup to control for age. The study patients experienced no statistically significant decrease in sexual enjoyment, ability to attain orgasm, coital opportunity, frequency of intercourse, or coital desire. Similar results were found in the age-controlled subgroup. Vaginal alterations were not present whether or not partial vaginectomy was performed. The authors conclude that vaginal hysterectomy, with or without partial vaginectomy, does not significantly alter the sexual lives of multiparous women treated for carcinoma in situ .