Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury and Female Sexual Dysfunction: A Systematic Review

This is the first systematic review on female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in patients who sustained obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI).

The aim of the study was to characterize FSD following OASI.

Between January and April 2024, we conducted a literature search of studies that explored outcomes of FSD following OASI, reporting on rates of dyspareunia and/or using questionnaires that measured female sexual function.

Fourteen studies with 1,907 OASI patients met inclusion criteria. Rates of dyspareunia in the first year after OASI ranged from 27% to 35% with only 40%-57% of women having resumed sexual activity at 3 months postpartum. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) were the most utilized questionnaires. Using the FSFI, the range of FSD was 47%-81% among patients with OASI. The FSFI subdomain scores (maximum 6) for desire and arousal had the least improvement with time, ranging from 1.3-2.1 at 2 months to 3-3.1 at 4 months. Pain, lubrication, and orgasm domains showed greater improvement with time, ranging from 1.4-1.6 at 2 months and up to 3.5-3.8 at 4 months. Five studies used the PISQ-12 with mean scores of 34.1-39 (range 0-48), 3 of which included a non-OASI control group and found similar PISQ-12 scores between groups. Physical therapy did not significantly impact FSD.

One-third of patients with OASI experience dyspareunia in the first year postpartum, 1in 2 patients do not resume intercourse at 3 months postpartum, and FSD, measured by the FSFI, may be present in 80% of women with OASI at 3 months postpartum.