Hypothesis / aims of study: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and the second most common cancer in low- and middle-income countries [1]. The treatment of this disease is mainly by surgery or radiation therapy. Surgery is suitable for initiated patients and the most common form of hysterectomy, in these cases, is a case of radical hysterectomy or type III [2]. Although the outcome of survival for treated cervical cancer, negative for lymph nodes is excellent, a radical hysterectomy transmits important morbidity, especially regarding the sexual function [3]. This review was carried out to answer the following question: What is the effect of hysterectomy for cervical cancer on sexual function? In addition to describing the prevalence of sexual symptoms among women after hysterectomy for cervical cancer and benign conditions.

Study design, materials, and methods: This is a systematic review of the literature. A search of the articles took place between 1 and 7 September 2019, by two authors independently, in six databases and in the list of references. There were no limits regarding the language or the period of publication of the manuscripts. Observational studies and experiments were selected and presented in line with the PICO strategy developed for the formulated search strategy. Duplicate articles, reviews or comments were excluded.

Results: 4014 articles were found in the databases and one in the reference list. 128 articles were selected after removing duplicates and 27 were evaluated in full for eligibility. Thus, resulting in a final sample of seven articles that investigated female sexual dysfunctions.

Interpretation of results: We can say that the choice between forms of treatment for cervical cancer involves multiple factors, such as more frequent morbidities and prognostic factors present. The uterus is an organ biologically associated with reproduction and socially linked to sexuality, so its removal can greatly interfere with the expression of female sexuality. The need to perform surgery to remove this organ can, in many cases, cause conflicting, traumatic, and insecure and anxiety emotions, generating important changes in sexual patterns and desires. Hysterectomy is a surgery that leads to changes in the size and shape of the genitals, difficulty in vaginal penetration, distribution, interruption of anatomical sports of sexual response, among others. The data found in the sample of the present review examined an increase in the rates of superficial and deep prevalence, orgasmic dysfunctions, and the worst vaginal lubrication, in all types of hysterectomies performed in the treatment of cervical cancer.

Concluding message: From the results obtained in this systematic review, it is important to highlight that sexual dysfunctions in hysterectomized women are frequent events, mainly dyspareunia, orgasmic dysfunctions, and vaginal dryness. In this context, a nursing consultation is essential to end the proportion of women health promoters undergoing treatment for cervical cancer, with a consequent improvement in quality of life.

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Piver MS, Lee JY. The 21st century role of Piver type II hysterectomy in FIGO stage IA, IB cervical cancer: a personal perspective. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. (2008) 29:109–13.
Serati M, Salvatore S, Uccella S, Laterza RM, Cromi A, Ghezzi F, Bolis P. Sexual function after radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer: is there a difference between laparoscopy and laparotomy? J Sex Med. 2009 Sep;6(9):2516-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01363.x.