Sexual function in women with overactive bladder

: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a major cause of suffering in many patients, requiring long-term therapy to maintain symptoms relief. Incontinence or even the fear of leaking urine interferes with sexual function. However, studies evaluating the burden of OAB on female sexual function are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women with OAB compared with healthy controls.

: A total of 112 female patients with clinical and urodynamically proven OAB and 165 healthy controls, free from urinary symptoms were included in our study. Women younger than 18 or sexually inactive were excluded, while the 2 groups were matched to age, parity, and menopause status. All women were investigated in accordance with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) which contains 19 questions and categorizes sexual dysfunction in 6 domains.

: According to FSFI, and using as a cut off score, the value of 26.5, sexual dysfunction was diagnosed in 47% of urge incontinent women compared with 22% among healthy controls. We noticed that from the incontinent women with FSFI score lower than 26.5, 47% reported sexual pain disorders, 34% hypoactive sexual desire, 25% sexual arousal disorders, 25% lubrication disorder, and 22% complained of orgasmic deficiency. Furthermore 6 of 10 women with sexual arousal disorders and 10 of 15 with sexual pain disorders also complained for recurrent bacterial cystitis. The FSFI median values in both groups scored as follows (patients vs. controls: median value): desire: 2.9 versus 4.4; arousal: 2.9 versus 4.5; lubrication: 3.3 versus 4.6; orgasm: 3.5 versus 4.3; sexual satisfaction: 2.9 versus 4.4; sexual pain: 2.8 versus 4.3 and full scale 18.3 versus 26.5 (P < 0.001).

: Women with OAB reported sexual dysfunction in a considerably higher number than a general, healthy female population without urinary symptoms.