Premium
The effect of vaginal pelvic organ prolapse surgery on sexual function
Author(s) -
Ulrich Daniela,
Dwyer Peter,
Rosamilia Anna,
Lim Yik,
Lee Joseph
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
neurourology and urodynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1520-6777
pISSN - 0733-2467
DOI - 10.1002/nau.22569
Subject(s) - medicine , sexual function , sex organ , surgery , native tissue , gynecology , genetics , biology , tissue engineering , biomedical engineering
Aims Data on female sexual function after prolapse surgery are conflicting. The aim of the study was to evaluate the change in sexual function and vaginal symptoms using patient reported outcomes following prolapse surgery in addition to the anatomical stage. Methods Prospective observational study of women undergoing pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery. The validated International Consultation on Incontinence modular Questionnaire‐Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ‐VS) questionnaire was completed preoperatively, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Results Ninety‐three women participated in the study with 83 (89%) returning the 6 months questionnaire and 80 (86%) the 12 months questionnaire. Twenty‐four healthy women without prolapse were included as a control group. The mean vaginal‐ and sexual‐symptom score both improved with a significant decrease at 6 months and 12 months after surgery ( P < 0.001, P < 0.05, respectively). The POP‐Q scores of each compartment also improved significantly after 6 and 12 months ( P < 0.001) with 75% reaching anatomical success. There was no correlation between anatomical success and subjective ICIQ‐VS outcomes. The vaginal and sexual matters score had a lesser reduction in women who had additional levator plication sutures during posterior vaginal repair compared to those without. Women with levator plication also showed a significant increase in postoperative dyspareunia. Conclusions Surgical intervention for POP improved the vaginal and sexual matters scores at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Levator plication additionally to posterior vaginal repair is associated with an increase in postoperative dyspareunia rates and with decreased sexual function. Neurourol. Urodynam. 34:316–321, 2015 . © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.