Predictors of sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence

Neurourol Urodyn. 2018 Feb;37(2):861-868. doi: 10.1002/nau.23370. Epub 2017 Aug 2.

Abstract

Aims: To assess female sexual function (SF) in different grades of urodynamic stress urinary incontinence (SUI), with/without pelvic organ prolapse (POP); to investigate associations between clinical data and pelvic organ prolapse/urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire (PISQ) scores.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in sexually active women (130 with SUI and 126 controls). Stamey score and POP quantification (POP-Q) were used. Urogynecological examinations were performed; all participants completed PISQ. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify negative SF predictors.

Results: SF was lower in the study group (P < 0.001), in moderate (P < 0.001), and severe SUI (P < 0.02) versus controls, in each particular domain and total PISQ-score (total score: 83.8 ± 14.8, 80.8 ± 14.5, 84.5 ± 11.1 vs 95.7 ± 10.3, respectively). Women with mild SUI had better SF in physical and partner-related domains compared to moderate SUI (33.6 ± 6.1 vs 30.7 ± 6.4, P < 0.02; 18.8 ± 2.9 vs 17.3 ± 3.3, P = 0.02, respectively). Age correlated with PISQ-scores in behavioral/emotive (r = -0.24, P = 0.006), and partner-related domains (r = -0.28, P = 0.002), and total PISQ-score (r = -0.2, P = 0.02); menopausal status with partner-related domain (r = -0.32, P = 0.000) and total PISQ-score (r = -0.19, P = 0.029); menopause duration with physical domain (r = 0.17, P = 0.045); SUI stage only with PISQ scores in physical domain (r = -0.22, P = 0.014). No correlations were found between BMI, parity, number of vaginal deliveries, POP-Q stages, with PISQ results. Age in the SUI group and controls (β = -0.18, P < 0.05) and BMI in controls (β = -0.26, P < 0.01) were independent predictors of impaired SF.

Conclusions: Different SF predictors were found in SUI women and controls. Impaired SF was confirmed in SUI women compared to controls, with more severe SUI corresponding to lower SF.

Keywords: pelvic organ prolapse; pelvic organ prolapse/urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire (PISQ); quality of life; sexual function; stress urinary incontinence.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Delivery, Obstetric / statistics & numerical data
  • Emotions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Marriage
  • Menopause
  • Middle Aged
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse / complications
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse / psychology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / physiopathology
  • Sexuality*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress / complications*
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress / psychology*
  • Young Adult