Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2011 Dec;54(12):778-783. 10.5468/KJOG.2011.54.12.778.

The impact of symptomatic urinary incontinence on female sexual function in middle- to old-aged Korean women

• Kim JH
• Kim YH
• Kim JJ
• Kim SM
• Jeon MJ

• KMID: 1443942
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/KJOG.2011.54.12.778

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of symptomatic urinary incontinence (UI) on sexual function in middle- to old-aged Korean women.
METHODS
From May 2009 to January 2010, a cross-sectional study was performed including middle- to old-aged, sexually active women who visited comprehensive screening clinic. We performed history taking, biometry, pelvic examination, laboratory test, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI)-20, and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Symptomatic UI was said to be present when the score for the problem-specific PFDI-16/17 questions were > or =2. Participants obtaining a total FSFI score of 26.55 or less were defined as having female sexual dysfunction (FSD).
RESULTS
Among 773 enrolled women, 318 (41.14%) had symptomatic UI. FSD was significantly frequent in symptomatic UI group than normal group (62.26% vs. 49.45%, P < 0.05). Symptomatic UI was associated significantly with a total FSFI score in multiple linear regression model (standardized beta = -0.108, P < 0.05). After adjustment of clinical risk factors for FSD by analysis of covariance analyses, symptomatic UI group had significantly lower scores than those of normal groups (24.59 vs. 25.74, P < 0.05), and this was observed in all sub-domains (desire 2.88 vs. 3.05; arousal 3.75 vs. 3.96; orgasm 4.11 vs. 4.36; satisfaction 4.15 vs. 4.33; pain 4.99 vs. 5.20, P < 0.05) except lubrication domain (4.70 vs. 4.84, P = 0.056).
CONCLUSION
Symptomatic UI is a risk factor for sexual dysfunction of middle- to old-aged women. Further studies should be followed to evaluate whether the treatment of symptomatic UI could restore the impaired sexual function.

Keyword

Urinary incontinence; Female sexual dysfunction; Female Sexual Function Index; Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory

MeSH Terms

Arousal
Biometry
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Gynecological Examination
Humans
Linear Models
Lubrication
Mass Screening
Orgasm
Pelvic Floor
Risk Factors
Urinary Incontinence

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