title: Long-term follow-up of sexual function in women before and after tension-free vaginal tape operation for stress urinary incontinence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective study investigates sexual function in women after a tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) operation and compares short-term and long-term effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three women had a TVT operation performed at Aalborg University Hospital, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, between November 2008 and June 2010. Patients completed the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12 (PISQ-12) and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) before undergoing surgery, 6 months postoperatively, and at the long-term follow-up (mean 4 years and 9 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four women completed the two questionnaires all three times. Preoperatively, mean PISQ-12 was 33.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 28.9-38.6] and the ICIQ-UI SF was 15.2 (14.4-16.0). Postoperatively the PISQ-12 increased significantly and the ICIQ-UI-SF decreased significantly, to 36.7 (31.5-41.9) and 2.5 (1.3-3.8), respectively, at the 6-months follow-up and 35.8 (33.6-38.1) and 4.9 (3.4-6.3), respectively, at the long-term follow-up. The greates improvement was in the physical domain of the PISQ-12. Women experienced less negative emotional reactions during intercourse, less coital incontinence, and less fear of being incontinent during intercourse after the TVT operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that a woman's sex life does not deteriorate after a TVT operation, that their sexual function improves somewhat, and that results are sustained over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aalborg University Hospital, Reberbansgade, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark. annasofielindquist@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anna Sofie Inger
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5675-4184
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lindquist
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aalborg University Hospital, Reberbansgade, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Glavind
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D053825:Suburethral Slings / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Long-term follow-up; Sexual function; Stress urinary incontinence; Tension-free vaginal tape; Urogynecology