Sexual satisfaction following bariatric surgery: A prospective exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Obesity and Bariatric Surgery
• Sexual Health and Well-being
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Obesity is linked to various health issues, including sexual dysfunction.
• Bariatric surgery is known to improve physical health but its impact on sexual satisfaction requires further investigation.
• A significant proportion of severely/morbidly obese individuals may experience sexual satisfaction challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe sexual satisfaction in severely/morbidly obese patients before bariatric surgery.
• To evaluate the effect of bariatric surgery on sexual satisfaction at 12 months.
• To determine the association between weight changes and sexual satisfaction changes post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study conducted from February 2011 to June 2014.
• 44 severely/morbidly obese patients were enrolled.
• Sexual satisfaction was assessed using the Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS) questionnaire at baseline and 12-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• At baseline, 62.5% of men and 46.4% of women reported sexual satisfaction.
• After 12 months, sexual satisfaction significantly improved in women (P=0.032) but not in men (P=0.717).
• The percentage of women with sexual satisfaction problems decreased by 33% (P=0.038).

Conclusions:

• Severely/morbidly obese individuals frequently experience significant sexual satisfaction issues prior to bariatric surgery.
• Bariatric surgery leads to a significant improvement in sexual satisfaction, particularly among women, 12 months post-procedure.
• Weight changes post-bariatric surgery may influence sexual satisfaction outcomes.