Sexual function and pelvic floor disorders

Abstract

Sexual wellbeing is an important aspect of women's health. Female sexual dysfunction is multifactorial and involves physical, social and psychological dimensions. Dysfunction may result from lack of sexual desire, sexual pain or arousal, and orgasmic problems. Sexual dysfunction is common and increases with age and pelvic floor disorders such as urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Surgical treatment of pelvic floor disorders has been poorly studied but has the potential to improve sexual satisfaction or to cause sexual difficulties. New instruments such as condition-specific sexual questionnaires have recently been developed and will help us to better evaluate the results of incontinence and prolapse surgery on sexual function.