The effect of transobturator tape operation on sexual functions of a patient with stress urinary incontinence and patient's spouse

Abstract

Purpose: This prospective study aimed to investigate the effects of transobturator tape (TOT) procedure on patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and their spouses' sexual function.

Material and methods: A total of 157 patients with SUI who underwent TOT operation between January 2017 and May 2019 and their spouses were included. All patients enrolled filled out the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and patients' spouses filled out International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) before surgery and 6 months after the surgery.

Results: The mean value of IIQ-7 and UDI-6 questionnaires in the sixth month after the TOT surgery was lower than the mean scores of these questionnaires before surgery (P < .001). The mean value of the FSFI score was 21.84 ± 1.76 before the surgery and 25.43 ± 1.84 in the sixth month after the surgery (P < .001). There was a significant improvement in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain scores on the FSFI domains (P < .001, <.001, <.001, <.001, <.001 and <.05, respectively). The mean value of the IIEF-5 score of patients' spouses was 48.31 ± 5.23 before surgery and 57.87 ± 7.22 in the sixth month after the surgery (P < .001). Significant improvement was observed in IIEF-5 score regarding sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction domains (P = .012, .002, and .006, respectively).

Conclusion: TOT surgery significantly improves the sexual functions of both patients and their spouses.

Keywords: female sexual function; male sexual function; stress urinary incontinence; transobturator tape.