title: The effect of pelvic organ prolapse on sexual function in a general cohort of women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This is a report about the effects of pelvic organ prolapse on sexual function in women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of pelvic organ prolapse on sexual function in women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 1,267 sexually active women. Baseline characteristics, medical and obstetric history of the patients were recorded. All women underwent vaginal examination to determine the degree of prolapse by pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) system. Of 1,267 women, 342 (27.0%) had prolapse stage ≥2.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire short form (PISQ-12) scores of the women were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with genital prolapse had lower PISQ-12 scores than women without it. The difference resulted mainly from urinary incontinence during sexual activity, fear of incontinence and avoidance of intercourse due to prolapse. Multivariate analyses showed that genital prolapse was one of the confounding factors for sexual function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pelvic floor dysfunction is a multi-faceted problem because it has both anatomical and functional aspects. Although pelvic organ prolapse had an effect on some aspects of sexuality, it has no effect on certain aspects of sexual function such as orgasm and sexual satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey. tokekrem@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ekrem C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Tok
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yasa
authors.forename: Devrim
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ertunc
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savas
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Durukan
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010298:Parity; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000150:complications*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires