The effects of gynaecological conditions and hysterectomy fro reasons other than cancer on women's psycho-social and sexual health

Abstract

The effects of gynaecological conditions and hysterectomy on psycho-social and sexual health are analysed in relation to the experience of 930 Western Australian women. The participants in the main survey were recruited from a simple random sample of 50 general medical practices in metropolitan Perth. According to their responses they were assigned to one of three groups: healthy, gynaecological conditions, hysterectomy. Although there were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of sexual activity across the groups, depression and self esteem scores were significantly worse for women with gynaecological conditions. Of these women, those with endometriosis were more likely to be depressed and reported on average the lowest scores on self-esteem. Women's ability to orgasm was equally distributed across the three groups and did not appear to be directly associated with gynaecological dysfunction or hysterectomy. Show more