Pelvic floor dysfunction and female sexual function

Abstract

© 2018, Medical Association of Thailand. All rights reserved. Objective: To evaluate sexual function in women with pelvic floor symptoms and to investigate the association between pelvic floor symptoms, pelvic organ prolapses [POP] staging, compartment of POP, and sexual function using a short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire [PISQ-12]. Materials and Methods: Medical records of women with pelvic floor symptoms attending a urogynecology clinic who were sexually active were reviewed. Information about age, parity, menopausal status, medical history, history of vaginal delivery, and hysterectomy were collected. Pelvic floor symptoms, evaluated by the validated, self-administered Thai version of Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire [PFBQ] and sexual function, assessed by a PISQ-12 were recorded. Staging and compartment of POP were assessed using the International Continence Society Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification [POP-Q] System. Results: The mean age of the 312 sexually active women was 58.9±11.4 years. Two hundred forty-one (77.2%) were menopausal. Urinary incontinence was the highest reported pelvic floor symptom with the prevalence of 80.1%. There was no association between PISQ-12 scores and pelvic floor symptoms, POP staging, and compartment of prolapse. Nulliparous women and women who had sexual pain showed significantly lower PISQ-12 scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: Sexual impairment was not related to severity and compartment of prolapse. Women with dyspareunia symptoms were likely to experience sexual impairment.