Postoperative Quality of Life and Sexual Function in Premenopausal Women Undergoing Laparoscopic Myomectomy for Symptomatic Fibroids: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

PLoS One. 2016 Nov 29;11(11):e0166659. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166659. eCollection 2016.

Radosa JC¹, Radosa CG², Mavrova R¹, Wagenpfeil S³, Hamza A¹, Joukhadar R¹, Baum S¹, Karsten M⁴, Juhasz-Boess I¹, Solomayer EF¹, Radosa MP⁵.

Author information

• ¹Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
• ²Department of Radiology, Dresden University Hospital, Dresden, Germany.
• ³Institute of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology & Medical Informatics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
• ⁴Department of Gynecology, Charite Berlin, Berlin/Germany.
• ⁵Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign gynecologic tumors. To date laparoscopy myomectomy is the gold standard for treatment of symptomatic fibroids in reproductive-aged women. Detailed counseling about the effects of this procedure on postoperative sexuality and quality of life is important in these patients. However, available data on these subjects are limited and contradictory. The aim of this study was to assess sexual function and quality of life in premenopausal women undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy for symptomatic uterine fibroids.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

All premenopausal women who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy for symptomatic fibroids between April 2012 and August 2014 at a tertiary university center were enrolled in this prospective observational cohort study. Sexual function and quality of life were assessed for the pre- and postoperative (six months post-operatively) state using two validated questionnaires, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the European Quality of Life Five-Dimension Scale (EQ-5D).

RESULTS:

Ninety-five of the 115 (83%) eligible patients completed the study. Overall a significant improvement in quality of life and sexual function was observed in the study cohort: Median FSFI (28 (18.7-35.2)) and EQ-5D scores (1 (0.61-1) after laparoscopic myomectomy were significantly higher than preoperative scores (21.2 (5.2-33.5); 0.9 (0.2-1); p ≤ 0.01). The number, position and localization of the largest fibroids were not correlated with pre- or postoperative sexual function or quality of life.

CONCLUSION:

Laparoscopic myomectomy might have positive short-term effects on postoperative quality of life and sexual function in premenopausal women suffering from symptomatic fibroids.