Sexual function after tension-free vaginal tape procedure in stress urinary incontinence patients

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate sexual function in women before and after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: Between August 2014 and August 2018, 105 sexually active patients with SUI who underwent TVT surgery were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire Short Form (PISQ-12) was administered pre- and postoperatively. Statistical analyses were performed using paired-sample t tests. Results: The sexual function of 105 patients 1 year after the TVT procedure improved in 81 (77.1%) patients, remained unchanged in 18 (17.1%) patients, and deteriorated in 6 (5.7%) patients. The mean PISQ-12 score increased from 29.65 at baseline to 33.04 at the 1-year follow-up (P < 0.001). Improvement was prominent in the physical domain of the PISQ-12 (P < 0.001), but the emotional (P = 0.948) and partner-related (P = 0.915) domains showed no significant changes. The increase in the physical domain score caused the increase of the total PISQ-12 score. Compared with preoperative values, there was no significant change in the score of pain during sexual intercourse (P = 0.425) at 1 year after the TVT procedure. Women experienced less coital incontinence (P < 0.001), less fear of incontinence during intercourse (P < 0.001), and less negative emotional reactions (P < 0.001) during intercourse after the TVT operation than before the TVT operation. Conclusions: Sexual function was improved in patients with SUI after TVT surgery.