Urogynecology and sexual function research. How are we doing?

Area of Science:

• Urogynecology
• Sexual Medicine
• Pelvic Floor Disorders

Background:

• Urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) significantly impair quality of life, affecting daily activities, body image, and sexual relationships.
• Sexual function (SF) is an integral component of overall health and well-being, yet its impact is often overlooked in pelvic floor disorder management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the evolving interest in sexual function (SF) research within the field of urogynecology.
• To quantify the representation of SF outcomes in scientific presentations at major urogynecological conferences.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of abstracts presented at the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS) and American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) meetings from 2002 to 2007.
• Abstracts were categorized by conference year, pelvic floor dysfunction type, and intervention, with a specific focus on those addressing SF outcomes.
• Statistical analysis, including the Friedman test, was employed to compare the prevalence of SF research over time.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in abstracts addressing SF was observed at both SGS and AUGS meetings between 2002 and 2007.
• In 2002, only 3% of AUGS abstracts and none from SGS focused on SF; by 2007, this rose to 9-10% for both societies.
• The majority of SF-related studies (60-70%) investigated the link between surgical interventions for POP and stress UI, and sexual function.

Conclusions:

• While urogynecologist interest in SF research is increasing, SF outcomes remain underrepresented in pelvic floor disorder research.
• Current research predominantly links surgical interventions for POP and UI to SF, potentially overlooking other contributing factors.
• Addressing sexual dysfunction in women with pelvic floor disorders necessitates a multidisciplinary approach involving urogynecologists, gynecologists, urologists, and sexual therapists.