Abstract

FERNANDEZ S. DE S, María Stella; OSPINA DE GONZALEZ, Bernarda  and  MUNERA GARCES, Adela María. Sexuality on breast or cervical cancer patients with surgical treatment at Hospital General, Hospital San Vicente de Paúl and Instituto de Cancerología de la Clínica de las Américas, Medellín, 1999. Rev Colomb Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2002, vol.53, n.2, pp.179-183. ISSN 0034-7434.

When integral health care is going to be given to women who go through a mastectomy or a hysterectomy surgery, it is necessary to keep in mind the sexuality form the erotic holon and from the interpersonal emotional attachment, specially regarding the couple's relationship. These two aspects are the objects of the present research study. An ethnographic approach was used in the study. Twenty-seven women, after a year of having had surgery and with an active sexual life, participated in the study. An alteration in the erotic holon was presented, from which four subcategories emerged: the biologic manifestation, the mutilation, the mental component and the elaboration of the loss. From the holon of the interpersonal emotional attachment, two subcategories emerged: to satisfy other's desire and the affection. Two categories emerged: the significance of the womb and the menstruation. There is a decrease in the libido and a loss of femininity symbols. The corporal loss led the woman to elaborate her grief.

Keywords : Sexuality; cancer; mastectomy; hysterectomy.

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