This prospective study aimed to evaluate sexual function in women who underwent transobturator tape (TOT) sling surgery and their male sexual partners compared to before the procedure.
The study included a total of 202 women with stress urinary incontinence who underwent the TOT procedure between April 2018 and February 2020, and their partners. All of the women completed the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire while their partners completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire before and 6 months after the procedure.
Mean IIQ-7 and UDI-6 scores were significantly lower at postoperative month 6 compared to preoperative values (p < 0.001). Mean FSFI scores were 22.5 ± 1.7 preoperatively and 27.8 ± 1.6 at postoperative month 6 (p < 0.001). Pain score did not change significantly (p = 0.4), but there were significant increases in the other FSFI domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, and satisfaction (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001). The partners' mean IIEF score was 50.05 ± 5.4 preoperatively and increased to 59.7 ± 6.8 postoperatively (p < 0.001). No significant differences were detected in erectile or orgasmic function (p = 0.16, p = 0.67), whereas desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction scores increased significantly (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001).
TOT surgery improves sexual function not only in women but also their partners.
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics. 2021 Jan 02 [Epub ahead of print]
Hasan Turgut, Eray Hasırcı, Mehmet Sinan Atkın, Tolga Muharrem Okutucu, Fatih Ileri, Aylin Ozdemir, Sibel Surmen Usta, Mehmet Sarier
Faculty of Health Science, Avrasya University, Ortahisar, Trabzon, Turkey. ., Department of Urology, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey., Dr. Ersin, Arslan Training and Research Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey., Anadolu Health Center, Urology, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey., Ünye Hospital, Ünye, Ordu, Turkey., Department of Anesthesia, Medicalpark Karadeniz Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medicalpark Hospital, Antalya, Turkey., Department of Urology, Medicalpark Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.