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Psychological Complications in Women Undergoing Voluntary Sterilization by Salpingectomy
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 January 2018
Summary
Five-hundred women electing salpingectomy for contraception and their husbands were studied by means of structured interviews and questionnaires over periods of three months to two years, beginning before surgery. The post-operative follow-up was completed for 374 couples. The subject's condition was compared before and after operation for emergence of any symptoms, and whether there was any significant difference in frequency of intercourse or other sexual behaviour, changes in sexual functioning, emotional adjustment and marital satisfaction. There was evidence of adverse psychological and sexual changes but these were apparently of a mild nature. Eighty-three per cent of the subjects complained of various symptoms, presumably of psychological origin; in 65 per cent sexual desire had declined, and 29 per cent had not resumed intercourse. The mean score of psychiatric symptoms based on clinical ratings rose from 0.38 before to 4.35 after operation, which is statistically highly significant. Paradoxically satisfaction with the operation was expressed by 92 per cent of the subjects.
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- Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1975
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