Pelvic floor dysfunction in morbidly obese women: pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of obesity on pelvic floor function in women.


METHODS
This was a prospective controlled study of 20 morbidly obese female patients planning to undergo gastric bypass surgery and 20 age-matched female controls. Subjects completed symptom and impact questionnaires, including the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI), the Kobashi Prolapse Symptom Inventory and Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (PSI-QOL), and Index of Female Sexual Function. Data were analyzed with Wilcoxon or ratio chi2 tests.


RESULTS
Mean weight was 295.7 +/- 87.9 lbs in the study group and 144.79 +/- 33.07 lbs in the control group. Mean BMI was 52.65 +/-14.49 kg/m2 in the study group and 25.11 +/- 5.27 kg/m2 in the control group. According to the IIQ-7, urinary incontinence significantly affected lifestyle in the study group. The total IIQ-7 score was also significantly affected in the study group (p = 0.03). The UDI indicated more urinary leakage with activity (p = 0.04) and more incidents of small amounts of leakage (p = 0.02) in the study group. According to the PSI-QOL, women in the study group experienced constipation more often because of difficulty in emptying the rectum (p = 0.04). The PSI-QOL score was higher in the study group (6.75 +/- 6.84) than in the control group (2.65 +/- 3.03; p = 0.04). There were no significant differences between groups regarding sexual function.


CONCLUSIONS
Morbid obesity is associated with a significant negative impact on urogenital health. Sexual function did not seem to be affected in women who are morbidly obese.
Kapoor
Dharmesh S
DS
Section of Female Urology and Voiding Dysfunction, Cleveland Clinic Florida, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Blvd., Weston, FL 33331, USA.
Davila
G Willy
GW
Rosenthal
Raul J
RJ
Ghoniem
Gamal M
GM
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology