INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We evaluated the associations between pelvic floor muscle strength and tone with sexual activity and sexual function in women with pelvic floor disorders. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter study of women with pelvic floor disorders from the USA and UK performed to validate the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, IUGA-Revised (PISQ-IR). Participants were surveyed about whether they were sexually active and completed the PISQ-IR and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaires to assess sexual function. Physical examinations included assessment of pelvic floor strength by the Oxford Grading Scale, and assessment of pelvic floor tone as per ICS guidelines. RESULTS: The cohort of 585 women was middle-aged (mean age 54.9 ± 12.1) with 395 (67.5 %) reporting sexual activity. Women with a strong pelvic floor (n = 275) were more likely to report sexual activity than women with weak strength (n = 280; 75.3 vs 61.8 %, p < 0.001), but normal or hypoactive pelvic floor tone was not associated with sexual activity (68.8 vs 60.2 %, normal vs hypoactive, p = 0.08). After multivariable analysis, a strong pelvic floor remained predictive of sexual activity (OR 1.89, CI 1.18-3.03, p < 0.01). Among sexually active women (n = 370), a strong pelvic floor was associated with higher scores on the PISQ-IR domain of condition impact (parameter estimate 0.20± 0.09, p = 0.04), and the FSFI orgasm domain (PE 0.51 ± 0.17, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: A strong pelvic floor is associated with higher rates of sexual activity as well as higher sexual function scores on the condition impact domain of the PISQ-IR and the orgasm domain of the FSFI.
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We evaluated the associations between pelvic floor muscle strength and tone with sexual activity and sexual function in women with pelvic floor disorders. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter study of women with pelvic floor disorders from the USA and UK performed to validate the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, IUGA-Revised (PISQ-IR). Participants were surveyed about whether they were sexually active and completed the PISQ-IR and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaires to assess sexual function. Physical examinations included assessment of pelvic floor strength by the Oxford Grading Scale, and assessment of pelvic floor tone as per ICS guidelines. RESULTS: The cohort of 585 women was middle-aged (mean age 54.9 ± 12.1) with 395 (67.5 %) reporting sexual activity. Women with a strong pelvic floor (n = 275) were more likely to report sexual activity than women with weak strength (n = 280; 75.3 vs 61.8 %, p < 0.001), but normal or hypoactive pelvic floor tone was not associated with sexual activity (68.8 vs 60.2 %, normal vs hypoactive, p = 0.08). After multivariable analysis, a strong pelvic floor remained predictive of sexual activity (OR 1.89, CI 1.18-3.03, p < 0.01). Among sexually active women (n = 370), a strong pelvic floor was associated with higher scores on the PISQ-IR domain of condition impact (parameter estimate 0.20± 0.09, p = 0.04), and the FSFI orgasm domain (PE 0.51 ± 0.17, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: A strong pelvic floor is associated with higher rates of sexual activity as well as higher sexual function scores on the condition impact domain of the PISQ-IR and the orgasm domain of the FSFI.
Authors: Bert Messelink; Thomas Benson; Bary Berghmans; Kari Bø; Jacques Corcos; Clare Fowler; Jo Laycock; Peter Huat-Chye Lim; Rik van Lunsen; Guus Lycklama á Nijeholt; John Pemberton; Alex Wang; Alain Watier; Philip Van Kerrebroeck Journal: Neurourol Urodyn Date: 2005 Impact factor: 2.696
Authors: Todd H Rockwood; Melissa L Constantine; Olusola Adegoke; Rebecca G Rogers; Elektra McDermott; G Willy Davila; Claudine Domoney; Swati Jha; Dorothy Kammerer-Doak; Emily S Lukacz; Mitesh Parekh; Rachel Pauls; Joan Pitkin; Fiona Reid; Beri Ridgeway; Ranee Thakar; Peter K Sand; Suzette E Sutherland; Montserrat Espuna-Pons Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2013-04-30 Impact factor: 2.894
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Authors: Emily S Lukacz; Jean M Lawrence; J Galen Buckwalter; Raoul J Burchette; Charles W Nager; Karl M Luber Journal: Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct Date: 2005-04-26
Authors: Bernard T Haylen; Dirk de Ridder; Robert M Freeman; Steven E Swift; Bary Berghmans; Joseph Lee; Ash Monga; Eckhard Petri; Diaa E Rizk; Peter K Sand; Gabriel N Schaer Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2009-11-25 Impact factor: 2.894
Authors: R G Rogers; T H Rockwood; M L Constantine; R Thakar; D N Kammerer-Doak; R N Pauls; M Parekh; B Ridgeway; S Jha; J Pitkin; F Reid; S E Sutherland; E S Lukacz; C Domoney; P Sand; G W Davila; M E Espuna Pons Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2013-04-30 Impact factor: 2.894