Natural history of pelvic floor disorders before and after hysterectomy for gynaecological cancer.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and severity of pelvic floor disorders (PFD), and the associations between treatment type and PFD, and cancer stage and PFD in patients before and after hysterectomy for gynaecological cancer; and the changes in outcomes over time.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Gynaecological oncology outpatient clinics.

Population: Patients undergoing hysterectomy for endometrial, uterine, ovarian or cervical cancer.

Methods: Participants were assessed before, and 6 weeks and 3 months after hysterectomy. Changes over time were analysed using generalised estimating equations or linear mixed models. Associations were analysed using logistic regression models and analyses of variance.

Main Outcome Measures: Incontinence Severity Index, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-short form (PFDI-20), Female Sexual Function Index.

Results: Of 277 eligible patients, 126 participated. Prevalence rates of PFD were high before (urinary incontinence [UI] 66%, faecal incontinence [FI] 12%, sexual inactivity 73%) and after (UI 59%, FI 14%, sexual inactivity 58%) hysterectomy. Receiving adjuvant therapy led to moderate-to-very severe UI 3 months after surgery compared with surgery only (odds ratio 4.98, 95% CI 1.63-15.18). There was no association between treatment type and other PFD, or cancer stage and any PFD.

Conclusion: Prevalence of PFD was high before and after hysterectomy for gynaecological cancer. Moderate-to-very-severe UI was associated with adjuvant therapy.