Sexual impairment in women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for genital prolapse: a hospital-based cohort study.
BACKGROUND
No data regarding sexuality following laparoscopic prolapse surgery are available to date. Our hypothesis is that laparoscopic sacropexy does not influence sexuality negatively, whereas concomitant (vaginal) surgery negatively influences sexuality.


METHODS
Participants were 132 patients who underwent laparoscopic sacropexy. We compared pre- and postoperative sexual scores by 2 validated questionnaires.


RESULTS
The response rate was 84% (111/132). No change in sexual activity was reported after surgery. In the sexually active group (56.8%; 63/111) the impairment of sexuality was significantly reduced in all age groups independently of concomitant vaginal surgery. In the sexually inactive group, only 4.3% (2/48) were inactive because of vaginal symptoms before operation. After the operation these patients stayed inactive; however, 1 reported reasons unrelated to prolapse.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic prolapse surgery reduces sexual impairment in sexually active patients. There appears to be no benefit for patients who are not sexually active for reasons related to the prolapse. Concomitant surgery does not affect sexual activity.
Banerjee
Carolin
C
Department of Gynecology, Dormagen Hospital, Teaching Hospital of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. carolin.banerjee@gmx.de
Sachse
Katrin
K
Hellmich
Martin
M
Fanselau
Christian
C
Banerjee
Marc
M
Noé
Günter Karl
GK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019529:Sexuality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome