Sexuality in patients with ulcerative colitis before and after restorative proctocolectomy: a prospective study.

• The purpose of this study was to assess sexuality in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), before and one year after an ileal-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA).Group I comprised 14 medically treated patients (7 M) and Group II comprised 29 patients (18 M), operated with colectomy and ileostomy, with preservation of the rectum. Patients were interviewed about desire, excitement and general sexual satisfaction before and one year after the IPAA operation.Most of the patients had restarted sexual activity < or = 3 months after surgery. Sexual desire and desire for intercourse had not changed from before the IPAA operation. In Group I, one woman suffered from dyspareunia both before and after the IPAA. In Group II, three women had dyspareunia before the IPAA and four after surgery. Erection and ejaculation were normal in all men before the IPAA operation. After IPAA, one man in Group I and two men in Group II had loss of ejaculation. In Group 1, 10 out of 14 patients were satisfied with their sexual life both before and after the IPAA. In Group II the corresponding figures were 15 out of 28 before and 22 after IPAA surgery.A third of the patients stated that they were dissatisfied with their sexual life before IPAA. Although a few patients experienced sexual imperfections such as loss of ejaculation and dyspareunia, the majority of patients in both groups considered that the overall general satisfaction with their sexual life had normalized considerably after surgery.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adult

Colitis

Ulcerative

complications

psychology

surgery

Female

Follow-Up Studies

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Personal Satisfaction

Proctocolectomy

Restorative

Sexual Behavior

Sexual Dysfunction

Physiological

etiology

Sexual Dysfunctions

Psychological

etiology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)