Long-Term Follow-Up of Sexual Dysfunction in Women Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract

Chronic graft-versus-host disease is the most common late complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The aim of this study was to present the outcomes of two successful vaginal reconstructions. Patient 1 received chemotherapy for leukemia and underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The patient was sexually inactive for 9 years. In 2012, she was diagnosed with complete vaginal obliteration and underwent vaginal reconstruction. Patient 2 underwent chemotherapy (myeloablative therapy), was sexually inactive for 3 years and was then diagnosed with complete vaginal obliteration. In January 2013, she had vaginal reconstruction with cervical dilatation. Hormonal replacement therapy was administered to both patients. The results of dedicated questionnaires revealed decent quality-of-life and normal sexual functioning and continence status after surgery. Obliteration of the vagina after BMT can be prevented, but if it occurs, vaginal reconstruction surgery should be offered to any patients suffering from obliteration. Our results show that this therapy enables patients to have normal sexual lives without compromising their continence status.