PURPOSE - Studies investigating effects of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) on sexual function of couples are scarce. We prospectively evaluated sexual function of couples, relationship between sexual function and quality of life (QoL), and compared QoL of females with or without SUI.
MATERIALS AND METHODS - Sexually active females with or without SUI aged at least 21 years old, and their partners were recruited. The couples completed the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS) and a single-item question on overall sexual experience 'Over the past 4 weeks, how satisfied have you been with your overall sexual life?' to assess sexual function. Additionally, females completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms quality of life (ICIQ-LUTSqol) to assess QoL.
RESULTS - For sexual function assessment, 66 of 134 SUI couples (49. 3%) and 95 of 176 couples without SUI (54. 0%) were recruited. Females with SUI had lower overall sexual function (p<0. 001), lower frequency of sexual intercourse (p<0. 001), less satisfaction (p<0. 001) and higher avoidance behavior (p=0. 026). Partners of SUI females had more problems with erectile dysfunction (p=0. 027), less satisfaction (p=0. 006) and lower frequency of sexual intercourse (p=0. 001), but no difference in overall GRISS score (p=0. 093). SUI couples had poorer overall sexual experience (p<0. 05). Females with SUI (n=120/134, response rate 89. 6%) had poorer QoL compared with those without SUI (n=145/176, response rate 82. 4%) (p<0. 001). Sexual function and QoL were not significantly correlated (r=0. 001,p=0. 997).
CONCLUSIONS - Female SUI is negatively associated with not only their own QoL and sexual function, but also their partners' sexual function.
The Journal of urology. 2016 Jan 23 [Epub ahead of print]
Renly Lim, Men Long Liong, Wing Seng Leong, Nurzalina Abdul Karim Khan, Kah Hay Yuen
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Department of Urology, Island Hospital, Penang, Malaysia. , Department of Urology, Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Penang, Malaysia. , School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. , School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.