Urinary symptoms and sexual function after hysterectomy secondary to cervical cancer: A prospective, cohort study

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology Vol. 296; pp. 208 - 214
• Main Authors: Alves Firmeza, Mariana, de Vasconcelos Oliveira, Natália Maria, Mendes Alves, Flávio, Teixeira Moreira Vasconcelos, Camila, Ananias Vasconcelos Neto, José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01-05-2024
• Subjects: Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Hysterectomy; Hysterectomy - methods; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - etiology; Sexual Health; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urinary incontinence; Urinary tract; Uterine cervical neoplasms; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - surgery; Urinary incontinence; Uterine cervical neoplasms; Hysterectomy; Urinary tract; Sexual Health; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.02.042

•Women submitted to hysterectomy for cervical cancer increased the percentage of urinary symptoms.•After 4th PO month, the FSFI score has improved in women submitted to surgery for benign conditions.•Non-surgical factors may be associated with higher rates of pelvic dysfunction after hysterectomy.•Cervical cancer patients had higher percentages of urinary and sexual dysfunctions.
The estimated worldwide incidence of cervical cancer (CC) is half a million cases per year. Surgical treatment is the mainstay approach for this condition.
To assess the effects of hysterectomy due to cervical cancer in urinary symptoms and sexual function and the disorder related impact on the quality of patients life.
A cohort study was performed in Fortaleza/CE (Brazil) with 71 patients; of these, 31 were diagnosed with cervical cancer (G-CCU) and 40 with gynecological benign disease (G-PB). Sexual function (FSFI questionnaire), quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire) and urinary symptoms (KHQ instrument) were investigated in both groups at baseline (T0), one month (T1) and four months after surgery (T2).
Both groups presented at baseline, similar urinary symptoms (p > 0.05), but this frequency doubled for the G-CCU group at T1 and remained unchanged at T2 (p = 0.012). G-PB’s frequency of symptoms remained the same for 4 months after surgery. At baseline G-PB had higher risk for sexual dysfunction than G-CCU (82.5 % versus 54.8 %, p = 0.011). However for G-CCU, an increase of this percentage was perceived at T2.Women from the G-CCU group presented worse general and specific quality of life results.
Women underwent to hysterectomy due to cervical cancer presented higher percentages of urinary symptoms, higher risk for sexual dysfunction and worse general and specific quality of life scores.