SACRAL NERVOUS FUNCTION, HORMONAL LEVELS AND SEXUALITY IN PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN BEFORE AND AFTER HYSTERECTOMY

Objective. To investigate the predictive value of sacral nervous function, result of pelvic examination and hormonal status on sexuality before and after subtotal hysterectomy. Material and method. One hundred and four women were examined and interviewed one month before and one year after hysterectomy for non-malignant diseases. Genital examination, sacral nervous function testing including vibrotactility were performed, and sex hormone levels were estimated at each occasion. The results were evaluated and compared using multivariate analyses. Results. Postoperative experience of multiple orgasm was negatively correlated to three out of five measured factors for pelvic sacral function. i.e. vibrotactility of the clitoris, the external anal reflex and the levator muscle strength. No correlations were found between tests for sacral nervous function and a latent factor for sexuality before and after the operation. Preoperative uterine size did not show correlation to either preoperative or postoperative sexual parameters nor did uterine pain during vaginal examination. The preoperative sex hormone levels, and the result of histopathological examination showed no correlation to sexual variables. Conclusion. Preoperative somatic findings including sacral nervous function and pelvic muscular strength cannot be used as predictors for sexuality after subtotal hysterectomy.