Chest, Vol 90, 681-685, Copyright © 1986 by American College of Chest Physicians

ARTICLES

Sexual activity after coronary bypass surgery

C Papadopoulos, SI Shelley, M Piccolo, C Beaumont and L Barnett

Although successful rehabilitation of coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) patients should include consideration of their sexuality, there is a paucity of data regarding their sexual activity (SA). One hundred thirty-four patients were interviewed in regard to the impact of surgery on their sexuality and the relation of SA to their work status. Eighty-four of the 92 previously sexually active patients and two of the inactive ones resumed SA. Sexual dissatisfaction prior to surgery was a negative factor (p less than .05), while return to work, in the group that was working before, was positive (p less than .05) for resumption of SA. The average time before resumption of SA after CABS was 7.8 weeks. Thirty-nine percent of patients decreased the frequency of SA. Seventeen percent of patients and 35 percent of their partners expressed fear of resumption of SA. Twenty-three percent of patients had symptoms during intercourse. The couples who resumed sexual activity had a closer emotional relationship (p less than .02). Two- thirds of the patients received sexual instructions, but in only 20 percent of the cases did the physician himself initiate discussion. Although after CABS patients fare much better in regard to SA when compared to myocardial infarction patients reported in other studies, CABS does not provide a net gain in SA and sexual functioning. Comprehensive sexual counseling is still not being adequately addressed.