title: Sexual impairment in women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for genital prolapse: a hospital-based cohort study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Dormagen Hospital, Teaching Hospital of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. carolin.banerjee@gmx.de
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sachse
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hellmich
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fanselau
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Günter Karl
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Noé
mesh_terms: 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