Sexual function in women before and after tension-free vaginal tape operation for stress urinary incontinence

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sexual function in women before and after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) operation for stress urinary incontinence.

DESIGN: Prospective study.

SETTING: Aalborg University Hospital, department of gynecology and obstetrics between November 2008 and June 2010.

POPULATION: A total of 63 patients who had a TVT operation performed.

METHODS: Patients completed the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12 (PISQ-12) and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) before undergoing surgery and 6 months postoperatively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in PISQ-12 measures 6 months after the TVT operation.

RESULTS: Twelve patients were excluded because of non-completed questionnaires. Preoperatively the PISQ-12 score was 33.7 and postoperatively 36.7 giving a significant difference of 3.0 (p<0.05). Forty patients (78%) scored higher postoperatively, five (10%) scored the same and six (12%) reported lower scores postoperatively. Only PISQ-12 questions in the physical domain were significantly improved. These values were elevated close to the maximum score. Preoperatively 18 patients (35%) experienced coital incontinence always, often or sometimes. Postoperatively this was only the case in two patients.

CONCLUSION: Most women experience an improvement in sexual life after a TVT procedure mainly because of absence of incontinence during sexual activity or absence of fear of incontinence during sexual activity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.