Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Female Pelvic Floor Disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of weight loss on urinary incontinence (UI), pelvic organ prolapse, colorectal-anal complaints, and sexual dysfunction among obese women undergoing bariatric surgery.


METHODS
One hundred sixty consecutive women who underwent bariatric surgery were prospectively enrolled. Four validated questionnaires (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-UI [ICIQ-UI], Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms-SF [BFLUTS-SF], Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 [PFDI-20], and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12 [PISQ-12]) were used to evaluate pelvic floor disorders and sexual dysfunction before and 3-6 months after surgery.


RESULTS
One hundred fifty participants (mean age: 43 ± 12.8 years; mean preoperative body mass index: 42 ± 4.6 kg/m2) completed all pre- and postoperative questionnaires. Preoperatively, 56 (37.3%) women had UI, 44 (29.3%) women had pelvic organ prolapse symptoms, and 66 (44%) women had colorectal-anal symptoms. Overall, surgically induced weight loss was associated with statistically significant improvement in UI (mean ICIQ score: 9.3 ± 3.9 vs 3.3 ± 3.8, P <.001), pelvic organ prolapse symptoms (mean PFDI score: 19 ± 13.2 vs 11 ± 12.8, P <.001), and colorectal-anal symptoms (mean PFDI score: 21 ± 15.9 vs 14 ± 14.9, P = .004). Moreover, half of preoperatively incontinent women and more than one quarter of women who had either pelvic organ prolapse or colorectal-anal symptoms reported complete resolution of their symptoms. Statistically significant improvement in sexual function was suggested by both BFLUTS-SF (0.3 ± 0.8 vs 0.1 ± 0.6; P = .011) and PISQ-12 (37.9 ± 6.1 vs 39.5 ± 5; P = .003) questionnaires.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgically induced weight loss was associated with a significant improvement in pelvic floor disorders, including UI, pelvic organ prolapse, and colorectal-anal symptoms, as well as improved sexual performance.
Lis Maternity and Women's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Avner
A
Leshem
E. Wolfson Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Mordechai
M
Shimonov
Lis Maternity and Women's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Hadar
H
Amir
Lis Maternity and Women's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
David
D
Gordon
Lis Maternity and Women's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: agroutz@yahoo.com.
Asnat
A
Groutz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult