Sexual function after tension-free vaginal tape procedure in stress urinary incontinence patients

The aim of the study was to evaluate sexual function in women before and after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Between August 2014 and August 2018, 105 sexually active patients with SUI who underwent TVT surgery were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire Short Form (PISQ-12) was administered pre- and postoperatively. Statistical analyses were performed using paired-sample t tests.

The sexual function of 105 patients 1 year after the TVT procedure improved in 81 (77.1%) patients, remained unchanged in 18 (17.1%) patients, and deteriorated in 6 (5.7%) patients. The mean PISQ-12 score increased from 29.65 at baseline to 33.04 at the 1-year follow-up (P < 0.001). Improvement was prominent in the physical domain of the PISQ-12 (P < 0.001), but the emotional (P = 0.948) and partner-related (P = 0.915) domains showed no significant changes. The increase in the physical domain score caused the increase of the total PISQ-12 score. Compared with preoperative values, there was no significant change in the score of pain during sexual intercourse (P = 0.425) at 1 year after the TVT procedure. Women experienced less coital incontinence (P < 0.001), less fear of incontinence during intercourse (P < 0.001), and less negative emotional reactions (P < 0.001) during intercourse after the TVT operation than before the TVT operation.

Sexual function was improved in patients with SUI after TVT surgery.