Sexual function after transobturator tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence

To assess the effect of the transobturator tape (TOT) procedure for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) on female sexual function.

All women who underwent a TOT outside-in or inside-out procedure for SUI with no concomitant prolapse repair from January 2002 to November 2005 were sent a questionnaire by mail.

A total of 105 women fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 69 (65.7%) of whom returned the questionnaire. Of these 69 women, 66 (95.6%) agreed to participate in the study, although 4 did not complete the pre or postoperative questionnaire, for a follow-up of 62 women (59.0%). Of the 62 women, 48 were sexually active before and after surgery. No significant differences were found after surgery in the frequency and appreciation of intercourse, extent of sexuality, or the frequency of leakage during intercourse. A nonsignificant decrease of leakage was found after surgery (P = 0.06). Of the 48 women, 15 (31.2%) reported an improvement in intercourse satisfaction and 5 (10.4%) complained of sexual function deterioration after the anti-incontinence procedure. Partner discomfort remained unchanged. Of the 62 patients, 10 (16.1%) were unsatisfied with the surgical outcome because of persistent or recurrence of SUI in 6 and a deterioration of intercourse satisfaction after surgery in 4.

These results suggest that TOT procedures for SUI can have a positive, but also a negative, outcome on female sexual function. Additional and larger prospective studies are warranted to support these preliminary findings and to compare sexual function outcomes after transvaginal tape versus TOT procedures for SUI.