title: Effect of Midurethral Sling Surgery on Vaginal Sensation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have reported changes in the sensory functioning of the vagina in women with pelvic floor disorder.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate vaginal and clitoral sensation before and after surgery with trans-obturator tape (TVT-O, Ethicon Johnson & Johnson).
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative sensory thresholds for warm, cold, and vibratory sensations were measured at the vagina and clitoris 1 day before and 12 ± 4 months after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Differences in thresholds to warm, cold, and vibratory sensations at a predetermined anatomic area of the genital region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two women were admitted for midurethral sling surgery, and four were lost to follow-up. For the remaining 18 (mean age = 52 years, range = 37-65), we found a significant sensory decrease at the clitoral region to cold, warm, and vibratory stimuli after surgery. In contrast, in the anterior vaginal wall, there was a significant decrease only to warm stimuli after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TVT-O can cause sensory loss in the clitoral and anterior vaginal wall region that can be measured and quantified. The effect of such sensory loss on sexual function and quality of sexual life needs further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: lowensteinMD@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lowenstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.affiliation: Neurourology Division, Department of Urology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gartman
authors.affiliation: Neurourology Division, Department of Urology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gruenwald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002987:Clitoris / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012677:Sensation; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053825:Suburethral Slings / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014732:Vibration
keywords: Genital Sensation; Sexual Dysfunction; Stress Urinary Incontinence; TVT-O