The Effect of Surgical Menopause on Vasomotor Symptoms and Anxiety in Women: A Prospective Study

Aim: To investigate the effect of of adding oophorectomy on patients who underwent abdominal hysterectomy in the perimenopausal period on menopause, sexual function and mental status. Materials and Methods: The study was designed prospectively. Women who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy (TAH+BS) and total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-ophorectomy (TAH+BSO) in the perimenopausal period for benign indications were included in the study. Three months after surgery, menopausal symptoms (such as vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness and/or dyspareunia, memory and sleep problems) were investigated. Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores were investigated one day before the operation and three months after the operation. Results: 51 patients with TAH+BS and 55 patients with TAH+BSO included in study. Vasomotor symptoms and postoperative BAI scores were significantly higher in the oophorectomy group (p<0.001 and p=0.009, respectively). Vaginal dryness and/or dyspareunia, which adversely affect sexual function, were significantly higher in the oophorectomy group (p=0.005). Memory and sleep problems were higher in the oophorectomy group (p=0.009 and p<0.001, respectively). Postoperative BAI scores were found to be correlated with postmenopausal symptoms (vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness and/or dyspareunia, memory problems, sleeping disorders) in the TAH+BSO group. Conclusion: Vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness and/or dyspareunia, memory and sleeping problems, and anxiety levels were significantly higher in patients who underwent bilateral salpingo-ophorectomy with hysterectomy compared to patients who underwent only hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy. It seems useful to inform the patients who are planned for the operation regarding these effects before the decision of oophorectomy.