PSYCHOSEXUAL ADJUSTMENT AFTER VULVAR SURGERY

Abstract

Patients (15) treated surgically for vulvar cancer from 2 institutions participated in semistructured interviews and objective assessment to examine postoperative psychologic, social, marital and sexual adjustment. Descriptive statistics indicate that after vulvar surgery patients report mild distress, but they report reasonable levels of and satisfaction with their free-time and social activities. Mild levels of marital distress may exist. Sexual functioning and body image appear to undergo major disruption despite the fact that intercourse remains possible. Women reported levels of sexual arousal at the 8th percentile and body image at the 4th percentile. Although replication of these findings is clearly necessary, this investigation provides the 1st substantive look at the posttreatment life circumstances for these patients and offers a data base for future investigation.