The Effect of Myoma Uteri and Myomectomy on Sexual Function

Abstract

Introduction This is a report about the effects of myoma uteri and myomectomy on sexual function in women. Aim The aim of this article was to determine the effects of myoma uteri and myomectomy on sexual function in women. Method The study was designed as a controlled clinical study in an academic clinical research center. The study patients consisted of 80 women with myoma uteri and 75 control women. Baseline characteristics and properties of the myomas were recorded. A validated questionnaire was used to determine pre- and postoperative sexual function in the patients. Main Outcome Measure Female sexual function index (FSFI) scores of the women were recorded before and after surgery. Results Women with myoma uteri had lower FSFI pain and satisfaction scores than women without it, even after correction for possible confounders. Fundal and posterior myomas were associated with pain, whereas only posterior myomas were related to the overall FSFI scores. However, although there was no relation between the volume of the myomas and the FSFI scores, women with a uterine volume over 200 cm3 had significantly lower mean FSFI satisfaction, pain, and total scores. The mean FSFI pain and total scores of the patients improved significantly after undergoing a myomectomy. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that a potential impairment of sexual function exists in women with myomas. This is mainly because of pain during sexual intercourse, although it does not seem to have an effect on either the arousal or orgasmic phases. Furthermore, the performance of a myomectomy may alleviate pain during intercourse, and thereby improve sexual function in the patients.

Postoperative Quality of Life and Sexual Function in Premenopausal Women Undergoing Laparoscopic Myomectomy for Symptomatic Fibroids: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

“…Symptoms (e.g. bleeding disorders, pelvic pressure/pain, reproductive dysfunction) [5, 6] correlate with fibroid number, size, position, localization and degenerative changes of fibroids [7] and can affect patients`quality of life and sexual function [8, 9]. Despite the recent introduction of pharmacological and radiologic interventional approaches, surgery (laparoscopic myomectomy or conventional myomectomy via laparotomy) remains one of the main treatment options of symptomatic fibroids in reproductive-aged women [6, 10].…”

Effect of menses on standardized assessment of sexual dysfunction among women with uterine fibroids: a cohort study

“…In addition, the total scores of 19.7 and 19.6 are well below the cut-off score of 26.55 to differentiate women with and without sexual dysfunction (13). In a prior study by Ertunc et al , women with fibroids had lower pain, satisfaction and total FSFI scores than women without fibroids (2). The FSFI scores in our participants were slightly lower in all domains, except satisfaction, than the fibroid cohort from that study (2).…”

“…In a prior study by Ertunc et al , women with fibroids had lower pain, satisfaction and total FSFI scores than women without fibroids (2). The FSFI scores in our participants were slightly lower in all domains, except satisfaction, than the fibroid cohort from that study (2). Also supporting our findings, 20–25% of women report that fibroids negatively affect their sexuality or sense of femininity (1, 4).…”

“…In our cohort of women with symptomatic fibroids, heavy bleeding and dysmenorrhea were common, and we hypothesized that pain during intercourse may be significantly higher around the time of menses. Pain has been shown to be significantly greater in women with fibroids than women without fibroids (2), but assessment was not done at different times in the menstrual cycle in that study.…”

“…They also report higher pain scores during intercourse and lower satisfaction scores than women without fibroids. Sexual dysfunction scores have been reported to improve after myomectomy (2). In a multinational study, 42.9% of women reported that fibroids negatively affected their sexual life (1), and in a recent U.S. based survey, up to 60% of African American women felt that fibroids affected their sex life (4).…”