Effect of midurethral sling (transobturator tape) surgery on female sexual function

Transobturator tapes (TOT) are frequently used in the management of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). We evaluated the effect of TOT on sexual function in Indian women with stress urinary incontinence.

34 sexually active women (mean age 42.38 years) with SUI were evaluated before TOT placement for sexual function using the NSF-9 sexual scoring system questionnaire. The evaluation was repeated at the 3(rd), 6(th) and 12(th) months post surgery and then yearly.

There was significant improvement in scores in all domains of sexual function post-surgery. The frequency improved in 24 (70.5%) patients, lubricacy improved in 12 (57.1%) patients, orgasm improved in 21 (67.1%) patients, pain improved in 14 (70%) patients and, in leaking patients, sexual satisfaction improved in 85.7% while in non-leaking patients improvement was seen in 40%. Sexual relation was not satisfactory in 26 (76.4%) of the patients before surgery; of them, 21 (80%) patients had improved sexual satisfaction after surgery. De novo urgency and dyspareunia developed in one and two patients, respectively.

The TOT procedure has no significant negative impact on sexual function and it significantly improves female sexual function and overall sexual satisfaction in majority of the patients with SUI.