Objective: To estimate sexual dysfunction before and after trocar-guided transvaginal mesh surgery for pelvic organ prolapse.
Methods: Sexually active women participating in a prospective multicenter study were recruited at 26 centers. All participants underwent a standardized surgical procedure and were evaluated before (n=105) and 1 year after (n=84) surgery using the short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12). Nonparametric statistics were used for comparisons.
Results: Mean age at surgery was 61.5 years (standard deviation [SD] 7.6), median parity was 2 (range, 1-6), and mean body mass index was 26.8 (SD 4.3) (body mass index is calculated as weight (kg)/[height m]). Anterior transvaginal mesh repair was performed in 46 patients (44%), posterior in 26 patients (25%), and combined anterior and posterior in 33 patients (31%). Overall sexual function scores worsened from 15.5 (SD 8.0) at baseline to 11.7 (SD 6.9) 1 year after surgery (P<.001). The trend toward deteriorating sexual function scores was similar for all three surgical procedures. There was an overall worsening of all symptoms in the behavioral-emotive and partner-related items, whereas improvements were observed in physical function. Overall rates and severity of dyspareunia in specific neither improved nor worsened.
Conclusion: Sexual function scores deteriorate 1 year after trocar-guided transvaginal mesh surgery. The worsening was attributed primarily to a worsening in behavioral-emotive and partner-related items. Anatomical cure after surgery was not associated with improved PISQ scores.
Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00402844
Level of evidence: II.