Female sexual function following pelvic organ prolapse reconstruction: A case serial study

Abstract

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) may reduce women's quality of life and is one of the most important aspects in the occurrence of sexual dysfunction. This study aimed to assess sexual function in POP women with pelvic floor dysfunction pre and post-surgery. This study was a prospective cohort study. Using the total sampling technique at Arifin Achmad Hospital, Indonesia, the study recruited women who underwent POP surgery with active sexual function from July 2020 to December 2021. The pelvic floor disorder was evaluated through Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) questionnaires validated in the Indonesian language, pre, and post-surgery. The assessment of sexual function was carried out using the Indonesian linguistic validation of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaires before and after surgery. There was a decrease in the average value of pelvic floor disorder scores before and six months after surgery (P< 0.05). However, the sexual function increased with a cut-off score of FSFI > 20.25 at 3 and 6 months post-surgery, respectively as much as 61.1% (11/18 subjects) and 72.2% (13/18 subjects), compared to the pre-surgery sexual function scores by 7.8% (5/18 subjects). Out of the 6 domains of sexual function, an increase was found in the sexual arousal domain (P<0.05). There is a decrease in pelvic floor disorder and an increase in sexual function, particularly an increment in sexual arousal at six months post-surgery.