Sexual activity and function of women with severe pelvic organ prolapse subjected to a classical vaginal surgery. A Multicentre study

Abstract

Introduction and objective: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is related with female sexual dysfunction. The present study aimed to determine the impact of POP corrective surgery on the sexual life of women with advanced POP.

Materials and methods: A prospective, multicentre cohort study was designed, including patients with grade≥II, symptomatic POP, who underwent vaginal surgery with traditional procedures. Sexual activity and function were assessed by PISQ-IR before surgery and 12 months after.

Results: We included 355 women; 322 had data from the follow-up visit. The mean (SD) age was 64.8 (9.9) years. At baseline, 170 women were sexually active and 185 were not. After surgery, 29 women (16.8%) became sexually active and 20 (12.8%) ceased sexual activity. Before surgery, 42.3% reported not having sexual intercourse due to bladder, bowel or POP problems; and 11.4% after surgery. At baseline visit, 25.3% had no sexual activity due to pain, however, at follow-up visits, this percentage was 8.5%. A statistically significant improvement was observed in 5 out of 6 scales of the PISQ-IR in sexually active women.

Conclusions: Symptomatic POP is associated with female sexual dysfunction. Surgical intervention seems to have a positive impact on sexual life among sexually inactive and active women.

Keywords: Actividad sexual; Cirugía vaginal; Disfunción sexual femenina; Estudio observacional descriptivo; Female sexual dysfunction; Observational descriptive study; Pelvic organ prolapse; Prolapso de órganos pélvicos; Sexual activity; Vaginal surgery.