The short-term effect of surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence using sub urethral support techniques on sexual function.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence on the sexual function of women and to identify whether such treatment can improve their sexual function and overall quality of life.


METHODS
64 heterosexual women with such indication were studied using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire, modified by introducing one question to evaluate the impact of urine loss. This was applied preoperatively and six months after surgery.


RESULTS
Among these 64 patients, 60.94% had regular sexual activity, while 39.06% did not. Among sexually active patients, 59% had urine loss during sexual intercourse and, of these, 87% had urine losses in half or more of sexual relations. There were no statistically significant differences in assessments of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain, or in totaling the scores, between the preoperative period and six months after surgical treatment. However, the scores for urine losses during sexual intercourse were significantly better after the operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of the results allowed the following conclusions to be reached: Urine lost during sexual activity was frequent among patients with stress urinary incontinence. Suburethral support surgery did not jeopardize sexual activity. Patients cured of stress urinary incontinence did not present improvement in sexual function.
Pinto
Antonio C
AC
Division of Urology, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. antonio.cardoso@sbu.org.br
Baracat
Fabio
F
Montellato
Nelson D
ND
Mitre
Anuar I
AI
Lucon
Antonio M
AM
Srougi
Miguel
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003075:Coitus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014521:Urethra / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*