Does the sexual function of the spouses change after the TOT procedure?

This prospective study aimed to evaluate sexual function in women who underwent transobturator tape (TOT) sling surgery and their male sexual partners compared to before the procedure.

The study included a total of 202 women with stress urinary incontinence who underwent the TOT procedure between April 2018 and February 2020, and their partners. All of the women completed the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire while their partners completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire before and 6 months after the procedure.

Mean IIQ-7 and UDI-6 scores were significantly lower at postoperative month 6 compared to preoperative values (p < 0.001). Mean FSFI scores were 22.5 ± 1.7 preoperatively and 27.8 ± 1.6 at postoperative month 6 (p < 0.001). Pain score did not change significantly (p = 0.4), but there were significant increases in the other FSFI domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, and satisfaction (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001). The partners' mean IIEF score was 50.05 ± 5.4 preoperatively and increased to 59.7 ± 6.8 postoperatively (p < 0.001). No significant differences were detected in erectile or orgasmic function (p = 0.16, p = 0.67), whereas desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction scores increased significantly (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001).

TOT surgery improves sexual function not only in women but also their partners.