Volume 23, Issue 17-18 pp. 2637-2648
Original Article

Sexual function in women after urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse surgery

Dilek Bilgic Celik PhD

Corresponding Author

Dilek Bilgic Celik PhD

Assistant Professor

Faculty of Health Sciences, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey

Correspondence: Dilek Bilgic Celik, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey. Telephone: +90 542 2561804.

E-mail:[email protected]

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Nezihe Kizilkaya Beji PhD

Nezihe Kizilkaya Beji PhD

Professor

Faculty of Florence Nightingale Nursing, Department of Obstetric and Gynecologic Nursing, İstanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

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Onay Yalcin PhD

Onay Yalcin PhD

Professor

Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

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First published: 21 December 2013
Citations: 15

Abstract

Aims and Objectives

To determine how the sexual function is affected in women who underwent surgery for urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse.

Design

The study was conducted as a descriptive and prospective research.

Background

Approximately 11·1% of the cases with pelvic organ prolapse or urinary incontinence require surgical intervention. Some authors report improved function after surgical correction of pelvic floor disorders, whereas others report deterioration of function.

Methods

The research was carried out with totally 116 patients in three groups of women who underwent surgery for urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse. Sexual function and low urinary tract symptoms were assessed preoperatively and at six months postoperatively, with the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire 12 and Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Scale.

Results

Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12 total scores increased significantly, and sexual function improved at postoperative six months in all groups. In the evaluation of sexual function in each group at preoperative and postoperative six months, Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12 scores of UI, and UI and POP were found to be increased significantly, while there was no change in sexual function in women in the pelvic organ prolapse surgery group at postoperative six months compared with preoperative period.

Conclusion

As a result, it was determined that lower urinary tract symptoms were improved and sexual function of women changed positively at six months after UI and/or POP surgery.

Relevance to clinical practice

It is important to provide counselling on potential development of postoperative sexual function and the possibility of impairment of sexual function for women undergoing UI and/or POP surgery.

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