Top

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Published in:

01-01-2008 | Original Article

Sexual function after surgery for stress urinary incontinence: vaginal sling versus Burch colposuspension

Authors: Filiz Çayan, Saffet Dilek, Erdem Akbay, Selahittin Çayan

Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Issue 1/2008

Abstract

Objective

We prospectively investigated the effect of surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) on sexual function and also compared preoperative and postoperative sexual functions according to vaginal or abdominal surgery for SUI.

Methods

The study included 94 women who underwent surgery for SUI, and the women were divided into two groups: 53 women had vaginal sling, and 41 women had Burch colposuspension. Female sexual function was evaluated with a detailed 19-item questionnaire, the female sexual function index (FSFI), including sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. In all women, sexual function was compared before and after surgery for SUI, and the differences in postoperative sexual functions were also compared between the women undergoing vaginal sling and Burch colposuspension.

Results

In all women, total sexual function score significantly decreased from 20.8 ± 9 to 17.3 ± 9.3 after surgery (P = 0.000). Total sexual function score decreased from 19.2 ± 10 to 17.2 ± 9.9 in the vaginal sling group and decreased from 23.6 ± 6.2 to 17.6 ± 7.7 in the Burch colposuspension group, revealing significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.011). Statistically significantly higher decreases in postoperative sexual desire (P = 0.014), arousal (P = 0.026), lubrication (P = 0.004), and orgasm scores (P = 0.008) were also observed in the Burch colposuspension group than in the vaginal sling group. Based on total score, postoperative sexual function improved in 13 women (24.5%) of the vaginal sling group and in 5 women (12.2%) of the Burch colposuspension group, remained unchanged in 15 (28.3%) and 10 (24.4%), respectively, and deteriorated in 25 (47.2%) and 26 (63.4%), respectively.

Conclusion

Our findings show that sexual functions may be impaired after surgery for SUI. Burch colposuspension may deteriorate sexual functions much more than vaginal sling surgery in women. Therefore, women who will need surgery for SUI should be informed of the risk of deterioration of sexual function after surgery.

Baessler K, Stanton SL (2004) Does Burch colposuspension cure coital incontinence? Am J Obstet Gynecol 190:1030–1033PubMedCrossRef

Barber MD, Visco AG, Wyman JF, Fantl JA, Bump RC (2002) Continence program for women research group: sexual function in women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Obstet Gynecol 99:281–289PubMedCrossRef

Basson R, Leiblum S, Brotto L, Derogatis L, Fourcroy J, Fugl-Meyer K, et al (2003) Definitions of women’s sexual dysfunction reconsidered: advocating expansion and revision. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 24:221–229PubMed

Berglung AL, Fugl-Meyer KS (1996) Some sexological characteristics of stress incontinent women. Scand J Urol Nephrol 30:207–212CrossRef

Bortolotti A, Bernardini B, Colli E, Benedetto PD, Nacci GG, Landoni M, Lavezzari M, Pagliarulo A, et al (2000) Prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence in Italy. Eur Urol 37:30–35PubMedCrossRef

Çayan S, Akbay E, Bozlu M, Canpolat B, Acar D, Ulusoy E (2004) The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction and potential risk factors that may impaire sexual function in Turkish women. Urol Int 72:52–57PubMed

Çayan S, Bozlu M, Canpolat B, Akbay E (2005) The assessment of sexual functions in women with male partners complaining of erectile dysfunction: does treatment of male sexual dysfunction improve female partner’s sexual functions? J Sex Marital Ther 30:333–341CrossRef

Digesu GA, Chaliha C, Salvatore S, Hutchings A, Khullar V (2005) The relationship of vaginal prolapse severity to symptoms and quality of life. BJOG 112:971–976PubMedCrossRef

Doruk E, Akbay E, Çayan S, Akbay E, Bozlu M, Acar D (2005) Effect of diabetes mellitus on female sexual function and risk factors. Arch Androl 51:1–6PubMedCrossRef

10.

Glavind K, Tetsche MS (2004) Sexual function in women before and after suburethral sling operation for stress urinary incontinence: a retrospective questionnaire study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 83:965–968PubMedCrossRef

11.

Haase P, Skibsted L (1988) Influence of operations for stress incontinence and/or genital descensus on sexual life. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 67:659–661PubMedCrossRef

12.

Handa VL, Harvey L, Cundiff GW, Siddique SA, Kjerulff KH (2004) Sexual function among women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Am J Obstet Gynecol 191:751–756PubMedCrossRef

13.

Hilliges M, Falsoner C, Ekman-Orderberg G (1995) Innervations of the vaginal mucosa as revealed by PGP9.5 immunohistochemistry. Acta Anat 153:119–126PubMedCrossRef

14.

Helström L, Nilsson B (2005) Impact of vaginal surgery on sexuality and quality of life in women with urinary incontinence or genital descensus. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 84:79–84PubMedCrossRef

15.

Iskander MN, Kapoor DS, Mohammed A (2003) Subjective outcomes of the TVT procedure. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 83:69–70PubMedCrossRef

16.

Laumann EO, Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Paik A, Gingell C, Moreira E, Wang T, GSSAB Investigators’ group (2005) Sexual problems among women and men aged 40–80 y: prevalence and correlates identified in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviours. Int J Impot Res 17:39–57PubMedCrossRef

17.

Lemack G, Zimmern P (2000) Sexual function after vaginal surgery for stress incontinence. Results of a mail questionnaire. Urology 56:223–227PubMedCrossRef

18.

Maaita M, Bhaumik J, Davies AE (2002) Sexual function after using tension-free vaginal tape for the surgical treatment of genuine stress incontinence. BJU Int 90:540–543PubMedCrossRef

19.

Maas CP, ter Kuile MM, Laan E, Tuijnman CC, Weijenborg PhThM, Trimbos JB, Kenter GG (2004) Objective assessment of sexual arousal in women with a history of hysterectomy. BJOG 111:456–462

20.

Olsen AL, Smith VJ, Bergstrom JO, Colling JC, Clark AL (1997) Epidemiology of surgically managed pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. Obstet Gynecol 89:501–506PubMedCrossRef

21.

Ponholzer A, Roehlich M, Racz U, Temml C, Madersbacher S (2005) Female sexual dysfunction in a healthy Austrian cohort: prevalence and risk factors. Eur Urol 47:366–375PubMedCrossRef

22.

Roose SP, Glassman AH, Seidman SN (2001) Relationship between depression and other medical illnesses. JAMA 286:1687–1690PubMedCrossRef

23.

Rosen R, Brown C, Heiman J, Leiblum S, Meston C, Shabsigh R, Ferguson D, D’Agostino R (2000) The female sexual function index (FSFI): a multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther 26:191–208PubMedCrossRef

24.

Salonia A, Zanni G, Nappi RE, Briganti A, Deho F, Fabbri F, et al (2004) Sexual dysfunction is common in women with lower urinary tract symptoms and urinary incontinence: results of a cross-sectional study. Eur Urol 45:642–648PubMedCrossRef

25.

Shah SM, Bukkapatnam R, Rodriguez LV (2005) Impact of vaginal surgery for stress urinary incontinence on female sexual function: is the use of polypropylene mesh detrimental? Urology 65:270–274PubMedCrossRef

26.

Shaw C (2002) A systematic review of the literature on the prevalence of sexual impairment in women with urinary incontinence and the prevalence of urinary leakage during sexual activity. Eur Urol 42:432–440PubMedCrossRef

27.

Stanton SL (1990) Surgical management of urethral sphincter incompetence. Clin Obstet Gynecol 33:346–357PubMedCrossRef

28.

Stenberg A, Heimer G, Ulmsten U, Cnattingius S (1996) Prevalence of genitourinary and other climacteric symptoms in 61-year-old women. Maturitas 24:31–36PubMedCrossRef

29.

Thakar R, Mayonda I, Stanton SL (1997) Bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction after hysterectomy for benign conditions. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 104:983–987PubMed

30.

Tunuguntla HS, Gousse AE (2006) Female sexual dysfunction following vaginal surgery: a review. J Urol 175:439–446PubMedCrossRef

Title: Sexual function after surgery for stress urinary incontinence: vaginal sling versus Burch colposuspension
Authors: Filiz Çayan
Saffet Dilek
Erdem Akbay
Selahittin Çayan
Publication date: 01-01-2008
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics / Issue 1/2008
Print ISSN: 0932-0067
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0711
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-007-0418-1

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Sexual function after surgery for stress urinary incontinence: vaginal sling versus Burch colposuspension

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2008

The ex utero intrapartum treatment procedure: anesthetic considerations

The association of triple-marker test results with adverse pregnancy outcomes in low-risk pregnancies with healthy newborns

The effect of ethinyl estradiol–cyproterone acetate treatment on homocysteine levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Chronic isolated torsion of the left fallopian tube: a diagnostic dilemma

Pierre-Robin syndrome: a case report

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia, etiology and management, a 10-year analysis of a single center