Bladder pain syndrome associated with highest impact on sexual function among women with lower urinary tract symptoms

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the differential impact of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on female sexual function (FSF).

Methods: In a cross-sectional study in Agostino Gemelli Hospital, Rome, Italy, 188 sexually active patients with LUTS, as assessed by self-reported questionnaires, underwent comprehensive urologic and urodynamic examination between January 2008 and December 2010. Patients with urinary incontinence, voiding-phase LUTS, overactive bladder (OAB), and bladder pain syndrome (BPS) were included. FSF was assessed by PISQ-12 questionnaire, and scores (0-100; higher scores indicate worse FSF) were compared between the patients and a group of age-matched women without LUTS. PISQ-12 scores of different clinical and urodynamic patient subgroups were also compared by multivariate analysis.

Results: The global PISQ-12 mean score was significantly higher among patients with LUTS (32.7) than among controls (18.4; P<0.0001). Women with BPS reported the highest global PISQ-12 score (46.1), followed by those with urodynamic detrusor overactivity (45.0), clinical urgency (41.4), mixed (37.7) and stress urinary incontinence (28.1), dry OAB (22.2) and voiding-phase LUTS (19.6). Age, urinary incontinence, BPS, and detrusor overactivity were independent predictors of FSF.

Conclusion: BPS was associated with the greatest impairment of FSF among women with LUTS. Clinical and urodynamic urgency-type urinary incontinence affected FSF more markedly than other types.