title: Sexual function after sacrospinous ligament fixation for vaginal vault prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if sacrospinous ligament fixation predisposes to dyspareunia or if vaginal narrowing secondary to repair of associated defects is causative.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed and examined 36 heterosexual patients preoperatively and at follow-up 15-79 months postoperatively. We inquired specifically as to sexual activity or inactivity and whether sexual function had improved or declined since surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperatively, sexually active patients reported either an improvement or no change in sexual function unless vaginal narrowing occurred. Vaginal narrowing caused apareunia in three postoperative patients. Death of the partner was the most common reason for sexual inactivity preoperatively or postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sacrospinous ligament fixation did not predispose to dyspareunia unless vaginal narrowing due to repair of associated defects was present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35233-7333, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Holley
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Varner
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gleason
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Apffel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003075:Coitus / Q000502:physiology*; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*