[Influence of genital prolapse surgery on patient sexual life]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate quality of life and sexual life of female patients after abdominal or vaginal approach for prolapse surgery.

Patients and methods: Two hundred and nineteen patients with stage 2 or 3 prolapse underwent surgery over a period of 7 years. In this retrospective work, patients have been invited by mail to answer questions on the phone. The questionnaire is a French translation of PISQ12. Time between surgery and study is about 4 years.

Results: We got 176 answers: 52.3% of women underwent abdominal surgery (group 1) and 47.7% vaginal reconstructive surgery (group 2). In terms of quality of life, only 8.5% of patients are not satisfied in group 1, compared to 9.5% in group 2. In terms of sexuality, 64% have sexual intercourses. We find a significant total score difference to the detriment of vaginal way after surgery (p=0.005). We note indeed a significant decrease in sexual desire, orgasm frequency and excitement and a significant worsening in dyspareunia after vaginal reconstructive surgery. The other significant factors on sexuality are age and urinary incontinence. After a multivaried study, only age remains the significant factor.

Discussion and conclusion: This work confirms that both ways of surgery are an effective prolapse treatment, with identical functional results. Influence on sexuality seems to depend more on age than on the type of reconstructive surgery.