TITLE:
The influence of prolapse surgery on sexual activity of women
AUTHORS:
Linde T. van Genugten, Paul J. Q. van der Linden
KEYWORDS:
Sexual Activity; Sexual Functioning; Pelvic Organ Prolapse; Surgery; Leiden Questionnaire
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.4 No.3,
February
24,
2014
ABSTRACT: Aims: A prospective study to
assess sexual activity in patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and evaluate
changes in sexual functioning after surgery. Secondary outcomes were quality of
life and anatomical results. Methods: Patients completed the validated Leiden
Questionnaire (LQ) and the short form 36 (SF-36) pre- and two months
postoperatively. SPSS 19.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: 74 patients
(average age 61.5 years) were approached, of whom 33.8% were sexually inactive
due to other reasons than POP. 23 patients (average age 56.7 years) were
included for further analysis. Postoperatively we found a significant
improvement for orgasm during intercourse. The remaining domains didn’t change
significantly. A trend is noted, indicating that sexual activity stayed
unchanged in 82.6% of patients. Dyspareunia improved in 47.8% of patients,
lubrication in 34.8% and sexual satisfaction in 40%. Quality of life improved
in 73.9%. We found a significant improvement in POP grading. Conclusion: More
than a third of the patients presenting with POP are not sexually active due to
other reasons than POP. POP surgery appears to improve lubrication,
dyspareunia, sexual satisfaction and orgasm during intercourse in a
considerable part of patients. Furthermore, there’s no negative influence on
sexual activity. POP surgery improves quality of life in the majority of
patients.