Functional Outcomes and Satisfaction After Abdominal Hysterectomy

Objectives: Our aim was to compare urinary, lower gastrointestinal, and sexual function and to describe patients' expectations and satisfaction before and after hysterectomy.

Study Design: Forty-three women completed questionnaires before and about 1 year after abdominal hysterectomy for benign gynecologic conditions. Symptoms related to urinary, lower gastrointestinal, and sexual function and satisfaction with treatment were assessed. To account for multiple comparisons, only P </=.002 was considered statistically significant.

Results: There were no statistically significant changes in urinary or bowel symptoms before and after hysterectomy, with preoperative symptoms resolving in some women after surgery and developing in others. Sexual function including orgasmic ability did not change in the 34 sexually active women. The level of satisfaction with treatment was very high.

Conclusions: Women experience high degrees of satisfaction and no consistent changes in urinary, lower gastrointestinal, or sexual function after abdominal hysterectomy for benign gynecologic conditions.