Functional outcomes and satisfaction after abdominal hysterectomy

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to compare urinary, lower gastrointestinal, and sex ual 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. Sympt oms related to urinary, lower gastrointestinal, and sexual function and sat isfaction with treatment were assessed. To account for multiple comparisons , only P less than or equal to.002 was considered statistically significant . RESULTS: There were no statistically significant changes in urinary or bowe l symptoms before and after hysterectomy, with preoperative symptoms resolv ing in some women after surgery and developing in others. Sexual function i ncluding orgasmic ability did not change in the 34 sexually active women. T he level of satisfaction with treatment was very high. CONCLUSIONS: Women experience high degrees of satisfaction and no consisten t changes in urinary, lower gastrointestinal, or sexual function after abdo minal hysterectomy for benign gynecologic conditions.