Changes in sexual function after mid-urethral tape sling operations for stress urinary incontinence in Korean women

Purpose: We assessed sexual function by using a questionnaire in women who were diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence and underwent mid-urethral tape sling surgery. Materials and Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted of 151 women without evidence of detrusor overactivity or concomitant prolapse who underwent surgery (tension-free vaginal tape or tension-free vaginal tape-obturator) for stress urinary incontinence. The participants filled out a questionnaire regarding their preoperative and 6-month postoperative sexual function. Paired t-tests were used to compare changes over time. The generalized McNemar test was used to compare individual preoperative and postoperative findings. We considered a p-value less than 0.05 as significant. Results: Of the 303 women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 204 (67.3%) returned the questionnaire. Of those 204 women, 151 were sexually active before and after surgery. No significant differences were observed after surgery in the frequency or appreciation of intercourse or the extent of sexuality. A significant reduction in leakage symptoms was observed after surgery (p<0.01). Of the 151 women, 29 (19.2%) reported an improvement in satisfaction with intercourse and 23 (15.2%) reported a deterioration after the anti-incontinence procedure. Partner discomfort remained unchanged. Of the 151 patients, 26 (17.2%) patients were unsatisfied with the surgical outcome because of persistence or recurrence of stress urinary incontinence and deterioration in satisfaction with intercourse after surgery. Conclusions: These results suggest that mid-urethral tape sling operations for stress urinary incontinence improved the continence rate, but had little effect on preexisting sexual disturbances. Additional and larger retrospective studies are warranted to support these preliminary findings.