Assessing Compliance of Gynaecologic Patients to Postoperative Sexual Activity Avoidance

Objective: Avoidance of sexual intercourse is one of the recommendations for optimal healing after gynaecological operations. There are few studies about patient compliance to recommendations. With this study we aimed to assess patients’ compliance to sexual intercourse avoidance. Material and Methods: One hundred and fourty-four women with history of gynaecological operation in Gynaecology clinic of Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Health Education and Research Hospital were included in the study. Patients, whose files were assessed retrospectively, were interviewed by telephone. A questionairre about beginning of sexual activity was done. Patients with first sexual activity within the next 2 weeks of recommended time were included in the compliant group. Patients who had sexual activity earlier or more than 2 weeks later than the recommended abstinence period were considered as noncompliant. Results: Mean age of patients was 49.7 (±0.7), mean time of recommended avoidance from sexual activity was 4weeks (2-8 wks), mean passed time to first sexual activity was 12 weeks (2-20wks). Compliant group included 54 patients (37.2%), and noncompliant group included 90 patients (62.1%). Of 90 patients, 11 (12%) had early and 79 (88%) had lately started sexual activity. Conclusion: Most patients lately started sexual activity. During both preoperative and postoperative visits this subject needs to be discussed with the patient and her spouse and in order to relieve their concerns, informing them thoroughly about the course is crucial