Gynecologic symptoms and sexual function before and after liver transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To determine gynecologic symptoms and sexual function in a group of patients awaiting liver transplantation and a second group after liver transplantation. STUDY DESIGN: A questionnaire was mailed to 524 women. Of these, 233 had had transplants, and 291 were on a waiting list. The Transplant Database was used to obtain demographic information regarding these patients, and data were analyzed based on population age, Child's classification, type of liver disease, and pretransplant or posttransplant status. RESULTS: The response rate was 53%. There was no difference in ethnic or age distribution between pretransplant and posttransplant patients. There were no significant differences in rates of amenorrhea, but there was a greater prevalence of amenorrhea in patients with hepatocellular vs. cholestatic diseases (60% vs. 19%, p = 0.009). There was a higher incidence of pad use for urinary incontinence in pretransplant vs. posttransplant patients (14% vs. 7%, p = 0.04). There was no difference in availability of a sexual partner, sexual activity, orgasm experience, dyspareunia, satisfaction with sex life, symptoms of organ prolapse or dysmenorrhea based on transplant status, disease etiology or Child's classification. CONCLUSION: Liver failure patients differed in some of their gynecologic symptoms depending on their disease etiology and transplant status, but sexuality remained unchanged.