Older women who choose to have concomitant elective bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy may be at increased risk for decreased sexual function and loss of libido. The effect of elective oophorectomy on sexual function, including ideation, in older women is unclear.
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare sexual ideation and function among older women who had undergone previous bilateral oophorectomy with those of older women who had retained their ovaries. The study conducted a secondary analysis of survey data from 1352 women aged 57 to 85 years enrolled in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. The primary outcome of interest, self-report of sexual ideation, was chosen because having thoughts about sexual experiences is not prohibited by either a woman’s physical limitations or her partner’s issues (lack of partner or partner’s physical limitations). Among the 1352 women included in the analysis, 356 (25.8%) had undergone previous bilateral oophorectomy, and 996 (74.2%) had retained their ovaries. Based on a previous report that prevalence of sexual ideation is 52.8%, the present analysis achieved 90% power to detect a difference of 10% in sexual ideation. Logistic regression was used to assess associations, with adjustment for current hormone therapy, age, education, and race.
There was no significant difference in sexual ideation between women with previous bilateral oophorectomy and women who retained their ovaries (54.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 48.1–61.0; vs 49.9%; 95% CI, 45.3–54.5), respectively, P = 0.230; the adjusted odds ratio was 1.32, with a 95% CI of 0.96 to 1.80.
These findings suggest that bilateral oophorectomy may not play a long-term pivotal role in sexual ideation and function in older women.
