The impact of pelvic floor surgery on female sexual function: a mixed quantitative and qualitative study

ObjectiveTo assess whether the current condition-specific sexual function questionnaire provides full insight into sexual function following pelvic floor surgery.

DesignProspective, mixed quantitative and qualitative study.

SettingUrogynaecology clinic in a large university hospital.

PopulationThirty-seven women undergoing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and/or stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

MethodsWomen were seen before surgery and 3months postoperatively. At both visits the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ) was completed and a qualitative face-to-face semi-structured interview was conducted. PISQ total and domain scores, as well as the change in the preoperative and postoperative score, were calculated and analysed using Wilcoxon signed rank test and one-sample t-test. The qualitative data were systematically analysed using data-matrices.

Main outcome measuresThe impact of pelvic floor surgery on female sexual function.

ResultsSignificant improvement was seen for PISQ total score (P=0.003) as well as Physical (P

ConclusionsOur qualitative data show that PISQ is limited in the assessment of sexual function after pelvic floor surgery as it does not assess most surgery-specific negative effects on sexual function.