OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prospectively the impact of the tension-free vaginal tape obturator (TVT-O) procedure on sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: The present prospective study included women with SUI and no concomitant prolapse who underwent a TVT-O procedure at Fuzhou General Hospital in Fuzhou, Fujian, China. Before and 6 months after surgery, the patients had their sexual function evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Only sexually active women were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: Among the 55 sexually active patients, 21.8% had coital incontinence, which was cured in 11 of 12 patients (91.7%). More than half (54.5%) the women reported an improvement in sexual function after surgery and 45.5% reported no change. No statistically significant difference was found between preoperative and postoperative total or domain (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) scores on the FSFI. CONCLUSION: The TVT-O procedure in women with SUI did not significantly affect sexual function. Further studies are needed to verify the findings and compare the impact of TVT-O on sexual function with that of other anti-incontinence procedures.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prospectively the impact of the tension-free vaginal tape obturator (TVT-O) procedure on sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: The present prospective study included women with SUI and no concomitant prolapse who underwent a TVT-O procedure at Fuzhou General Hospital in Fuzhou, Fujian, China. Before and 6 months after surgery, the patients had their sexual function evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Only sexually active women were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: Among the 55 sexually active patients, 21.8% had coital incontinence, which was cured in 11 of 12 patients (91.7%). More than half (54.5%) the women reported an improvement in sexual function after surgery and 45.5% reported no change. No statistically significant difference was found between preoperative and postoperative total or domain (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) scores on the FSFI. CONCLUSION: The TVT-O procedure in women with SUI did not significantly affect sexual function. Further studies are needed to verify the findings and compare the impact of TVT-O on sexual function with that of other anti-incontinence procedures.