Sexual function in women suffering from aortoiliac occlusive disease.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the sexual function in women suffering aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) and in an age-matched reference group.


METHODS
Thirty-six women suffering from AIOD were included. Twenty were investigated before vascular intervention (untreated) and 16 different women after treatment (treated). Eighteen age-matched women served as a reference group. The patients answered a questionnaire including sexual, social and medical questions and a gynaecological examination was performed.


RESULTS
Untreated patients with AIOD have a significantly impaired physical well-being compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). A negative effect of the vascular disease and its treatment on sexual life was experienced by 69% of treated compared to 40% affected among untreated (p = 0.05). Vulval sensibility was impaired in 44% of treated, 11% of untreated and 22% of reference patients. Defective anal sphincter function was found in 33% of treated, 17% of untreated and 6% in the reference group. Those differences were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptomatic AIOD in women is associated with a significantly impaired physical and sexual well-being. Though limited by size and methodology, the results indicate the possibility of iatrogenic nerve damage.
Hultgren
R
R
Department of Surgery, Karolinska Hospital, Sweden.
Sjögren
B
B
Söderberg
M
M
Takolander
R
R
Wahlberg
E
E
Wahlberg
M
M
Olofsson
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000503:physiopathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology*