Do alterations in vaginal dimensions after reconstructive pelvic surgeries affect the risk for dyspareunia?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in vaginal dimensions after transvaginal reconstructive pelvic surgeries affect the risk for postoperative dyspareunia.


METHODS
Charts of all sexually active patients who underwent transvaginal reconstructive pelvic surgeries in our institution between July 1998 and June 2002 with 1 year of follow-up evaluations were reviewed. Data were analyzed with the Student t, chi2, Pearson's correlation tests and a logistic regression model.


RESULTS
Two hundred twenty-eight women aged 44 to 83 years were included. Dyspareunia increased after operation (16% vs 7%; P = .001); total vaginal length (7.6 vs 8.8 cm; P = .001) and genital hiatus (2.7 vs 3.5 cm; P = .001) dimensions significantly decreased after operation, with no predilection for any specific procedure. No correlation was found between these changes in vaginal dimensions and the risk for dyspareunia.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of dyspareunia increases after transvaginal reconstructive pelvic surgeries. Despite a postoperative decrease in vaginal dimensions, a causal relationship between dyspareunia and changes in vaginal dimensions may not exist.
Abramov
Yoram
Y
Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, Evanston Continence Center, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Ill, USA. y-abramov@northwestern.edu
Gandhi
Sanjay
S
Botros
Sylvia M
SM
Goldberg
Roger P
RP
Sherman
Wendi
W
Rurak
Margaret
M
Sand
Peter K
PK
D000368:Aged; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D015995:Prevalence; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*