Clinical female sexual outcome after sacral neuromodulation implant for lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS)

Over the last few years, sacral neuromodulation (SNM) has become an established treatment option for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

To evaluate if SNM improves sexual function in females treated with SNM for LUTS.

Improvement in sexuality by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Female Sexual Distress Score (FSDS).

We included 31 women, 17 of whom were neurogenic with permanent SNM. Prior to the neuromodulation screening, we assessed sexual function through blood sexual hormones, the FSFI and the FSDS questionnaires. Significant enhancement in sexuality meant an increase of 60% of the total score or of one FSFI domain, or 50% improvement on the FSDS. Only females who showed significant benefits in the first visit post-permanent SNM repeated the questionnaires in follow-up. All these women had their final visit by July 2007.

Both questionnaires indicated a clinically significant improvement in sexuality that was maintained up to the final visit for 4 out of 11 neurogenics with sexual dysfunctions: one showed arousal and desire disorders, one showed arousal disorder and lubrication impairment, one showed arousal disorder and pain, and one showed desire and orgasm deficits. Mean duration of sexual improvement was 23 months. Notable clinical improvement in sexuality was observed in two out of eight idiopathics (one suffering from arousal and desire disorders, and one from lubrication impairment) with a median follow-up of 22 months.

The positive effects regarding sexuality may be due either to enhancement of LUTS or to the direct stimulation of the sacral roots (S3).