Body image in women before and after reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse.
OBJECTIVE
This study seeks to determine the impact of prolapse surgery on body image in women with pelvic organ prolapse.


METHODS
Case-control study of 76 sexually active women with greater than or equal to stage II prolapse planning reconstructive surgery and 67 women with lesser than or equal to stage I prolapse. Questionnaires/examinations were completed at baseline and 6 months postoperatively for cases and at baseline for controls: Body Exposure During Sexual Activity Questionnaire (BESAQ), Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI), Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI)/Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ), and Pelvic Organ Prolapse-Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire-12 (PISQ-12), and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POPQ) examination.


RESULTS
Baseline and 6-month data were available for 64 case women with mean age of 60 +/- 8 years, mean body mass index of 28 +/- 5 kg/m(2), 96% Caucasian, and 83% postmenopausal. Baseline POPQ stage distribution was: stage II 14%, stage III 78%, and stage IV 8%. BESAQ, BIQLI, PFDI/PFIQ, and PISQ-12 postoperative scores significantly improved compared to preoperatively (all p <or= 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Body image, sexual function, and pelvic floor symptoms improve after prolapse surgery.
Lowder
Jerry L
JL
Division of Urogynecology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. jlowder@mail.magee.edu
Ghetti
Chiara
C
Moalli
Pamela
P
Zyczynski
Halina
H
Cash
Thomas F
TF
D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome