Influence of Operations for Stress Incontinence And/Or Genital Descensus on Sexual Life

Abstract

A variety of operations for stress incontinence or genital descensus are performed in gynecological department. The purpose of this study was to find out whether these operations influenced the patients' sexual life. In a prospective study of 55 women, all sexually active prior to the operation, various characteristics were evaluated by interview and gynaecological examination, immediately before and 6 months after the operation. We had adviced early resumption of sexual intercourse. Postoperatively, 13 of 55 (24%) patients experienced improvement in their sexual life, 37 of 55 (67%) no change, and 5 of 55 (9%) experienced a deterioration. Improvement often resulted from cessation of urinary incontinence. Deterioration was in all 5 cases due to dyspareunia and all 5 patients underwent a posterior colporrhaphy as part of the operation. We conclude that provided the patients are well-informed the prognosis for sexual life after these operations is good. However, colpoperineoplasty in combination with anterior colporrhaphy might cause dyspareunia in some patients.

Sexual function after suburethral sling removal for dyspareunia

“…However, this positive effect of treatment has not been confirmed by all researchers [15,16]. A pre-existing alteration of sexual function due to anterior repair is possible.…”

“…In our study, 15% of patients experienced recurrence of stress incontinence, which is probably the reason why patients' overall satisfaction with their bladder condition dropped by three points using the VAS, which is a validated tool to assess patients' perception [15][16][17].…”

Sexual function among women with stress incontinence after using transobturator vaginal tape, and its correlation with patient’s expectations

“…Altered sensation, diminished lubrication and orgasmic dysfunction were suggested as potential contributors to sexual dysfunction after surgery [17]. Hasse et al [13], in their prospective study, noted an improvement in sexual life in 24%, no change in 67% and deterioration in 9% after surgery for SUI, and concluded that the prognosis of sexual life after vaginal surgery is good, provided that patients are well informed. However, during the evaluation of FSD in 1000 healthy married women in Lower Egypt, with a response rate of 93.6%, 68.9% had sexual problems in the form of dyspareunia (31.5%), decreased libido (49.6%), difficult arousal (36%) and anorgasmia (16.9%).…”

“…Disturbed sexual function was reported during repair of either posterior vaginal defects, due to narrowing and dyspareunia [13], or by operations for SUI, due to disruption of vaginal innervation which is concentrated in the anterior and distal part of the vagina [7].…”

“…Depression levels can be classified into mild (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), moderate (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29) and severe ( > 30). Women were excluded if they were considered to have depression or psychological disorders.…”