Objective: To determine the effects on sexuality after Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH) in north-eastern Thai women.
Design: Prospective descriptive study.
Setting: Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University from December 2004 to May 2006.
Material and Method: 80 married women, equal or less than 45 years old, which indicated for TAH with or without unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. All patients had to attend the first questionnaire before surgery. The second and third questionnaires would be collected by mail in 3 and 6 months after surgery.
Main outcome measures: Frequency of dyspareunia, sexual desire, coitus, masturbation, and the quality of sexuality after TAH.
Results: The frequency of dyspareunia was decreased from 91.25% before TAH to 5% in 6 months after TAH (95%CI 1.19-1.61, p < 0.05). The frequency of sexual desire was increased from 55% before TAH to 88.75% in 6 months (95%CI 0.22-0.61, p < 0.05). The frequency of coitus was increased from 38.75% before TAH to 96.25% in 6 months after TAH (95%CI 0.54-0.98, p < 0.05). Normal sexual relations were increased from 53.8% before TAH to 85% in 6 months after TAH (95%CI 0.20-0.47, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Sexuality was significantly improved overall after TAH and these might be the strong positive effects of TAH on sexual function.

Keywords: Sexuality, Total abdominal hysterectomy