The Place of Female Sexual Dysfunction in the Urological Practice: Results of a Dutch Survey

Abstract

Introduction Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a highly prevalent and often underestimated problem. There is a strong association between urological complaints and FSD. Aims The purpose of this survey was to evaluate how Dutch urologists address FSD in their daily practice. Methods We performed an anonymous survey study. A 17-item anonymous questionnaire was mailed to all 405 registered members of the Dutch Urology Association (urologists and residents in urology). Main Outcome Measures The survey results. Results One hundred eighty-six complete surveys of eligible respondents were returned (45.9% response rate). Ten respondents (5.5%) stated that they ask each female patient for sexual function; 87.1% stated that they ask for sexual function when a patient complains about lower abdominal pain (87.2%), incontinence (75.8%), urgency or frequency (70.5%), or urinary tract infections (65.8%). Many respondents (40.3%) do not think that FSD is meaningful in a urological practice. The majority of respondents (91%) underestimate the frequency of FSD in a urological clinic. Respondents who believe the frequency of FSD to be at least 30% tend to ask more often for sexual function than the rest of the group (P = 0.08). Conclusion Overall, many urologists do not consistently ask each female patient for sexual function and underestimate the prevalence of FSD. For the majority of the members of the Dutch Urological Association, FSD is not part of routine urological practice. There is, therefore, a need for better implementation of education and training at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

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“…However, the routine identification of FSD is still lacking (25). Surgery for prolapse and urinary incontinence does not necessarily ensure optimal sexual function, and conflicting results have been reported (13-16).…”