Objective:

To identify differences in quality of life and sexuality in women without genital prolapse taken to vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy.

Materials and methods:

Prospective cohort study including women with no vaginal prolapse and benign conditions, with no adhesions and a uterus of less than 1000cc, amenable to surgery through the abdominal or vaginal approach, coming to a private clinic in Medellín, Colombia. The SF12 score was used for quality of life assessment two and four months after surgery, and sexuality was assessed before and four months after the procedure, using the Female Sexual Function Index. Comparisons were made using ANCOVA, adjusted on the basis of baseline values and other characteristics. Approval by the ethics committee as well as informed consents were obtained.

Results:

The study included women with similar pre-operative characteristics. Of them, 24 were included in the vaginal hysterectomy group and 22 in the abdominal hysterectomy group. Quality of life and sexual function improved for the women in both groups following the procedure. Postoperative physical health: adjusted score for vaginal hysterectomy, 49.5 (SD ± 1.6) and for abdominal hysterectomy, 43.8 (SD ± 1.7), with a difference of 5.6 points (95% CI 0.87-10.4). Mental health: 51.0 (SD ± 1.7) and 59.3 (SD ± 1.6) points, respectively; adjusted difference 8.4 (95% CI 3.6-13.3). Sexuality: 22.7 (SD ± 1.8) and 26.5 (SD ± 1.7), respectively; difference, 3.8 points (95% CI -1.2-8.7).

Conclusion:

Although statistically significant differences were found for quality of life, the score obtained is not clinically significant.

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