Predictors of sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence

To assess female sexual function (SF) in different grades of urodynamic stress urinary incontinence (SUI), with/without pelvic organ prolapse (POP); to investigate associations between clinical data and pelvic organ prolapse/urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire (PISQ) scores.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in sexually active women (130 with SUI and 126 controls). Stamey score and POP quantification (POP-Q) were used. Urogynecological examinations were performed; all participants completed PISQ. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify negative SF predictors.

SF was lower in the study group (P < 0.001), in moderate (P < 0.001), and severe SUI (P  < 0.02) versus controls, in each particular domain and total PISQ-score (total score: 83.8 ± 14.8, 80.8 ± 14.5, 84.5 ± 11.1 vs 95.7 ± 10.3, respectively). Women with mild SUI had better SF in physical and partner-related domains compared to moderate SUI (33.6 ± 6.1 vs 30.7 ± 6.4, P < 0.02; 18.8 ± 2.9 vs 17.3 ± 3.3, P = 0.02, respectively). Age correlated with PISQ-scores in behavioral/emotive (r = -0.24, P = 0.006), and partner-related domains (r = -0.28, P = 0.002), and total PISQ-score (r = -0.2, P = 0.02); menopausal status with partner-related domain (r = -0.32, P = 0.000) and total PISQ-score (r = -0.19, P = 0.029); menopause duration with physical domain (r = 0.17, P = 0.045); SUI stage only with PISQ scores in physical domain (r = -0.22, P = 0.014). No correlations were found between BMI, parity, number of vaginal deliveries, POP-Q stages, with PISQ results. Age in the SUI group and controls (β = -0.18, P < 0.05) and BMI in controls (β = -0.26, P < 0.01) were independent predictors of impaired SF.

Different SF predictors were found in SUI women and controls. Impaired SF was confirmed in SUI women compared to controls, with more severe SUI corresponding to lower SF.