A Qualitative Study on Experiences After Vulvar Surgery in Women With Lichen Sclerosus and Sexual Pain.
J Sex Med
; 13(7): 1080-90, 2016 07.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27209180
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Lichen sclerosus (LS) of the vulva can profoundly affect sexual interaction because of painful fissures and narrowing of the vaginal introitus. Successful surgical treatment is usually defined as restoration of (pain-free) penetrative sexual activity.AIMS:
To evaluate the impact of surgery on (dyadic) sexual functioning and pleasure and psychological well-being.METHODS:
Nineteen women with anogenital LS participated in audiotaped, qualitative, individual interviews after surgery to re-enable sexual intercourse. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Physical, sexual, and psychological experiences were analyzed using the constant comparative method.RESULTS:
Vulvar surgery resulted in a decrease of sexual pain in 13 of 19 patients (68%). Of these 13 patients, 4 were completely free of pain and the other 9 patients expressed a shift from preoperative sexual pain to postoperative sexual discomfort. These women reported improved sexual functioning, increased sexual activity and intimacy with the partner, and reinstated feelings of being an adequate woman and sexual partner. In 1 of the 19 patients (5%), surgery did not result in decreased sexual pain, yet she continued to have intercourse. Five of the 19 patients (26%) stopped having intercourse because of pain; one woman had secondary vaginismus and another woman, in retrospect, had premorbid generalized unprovoked vulvodynia. Four of these women were unable to communicate with their partner about sexual matters and to change their sexual repertoire (satisfactorily) once they had ceased intercourse (attempts). Eighteen women (95%) reported a decrease of LS symptoms in daily life.CONCLUSION:
Vulvar surgery seems an effective treatment for most women with LS who experience sexual pain owing to anatomic or epithelial changes and who wish to resume intercourse. To assess whether women might benefit from such surgery and/or whether (additional) sexual counseling is indicated, preoperative sexological couple-based consultation is needed. This consultation should exclude comorbid vaginismus and generalized unprovoked vulvodynia and index the couple's pre-existing sex life, including sexual communication skills, and the ability to incorporate non-coital pain-free sexual activities.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Disfunciones Sexuales Fisiológicas
/
Coito
/
Disfunciones Sexuales Psicológicas
/
Liquen Escleroso Vulvar
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Límite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Sex Med
Asunto de la revista:
GINECOLOGIA
/
MEDICINA REPRODUTIVA
/
UROLOGIA
Año:
2016
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Países Bajos