ABSTRACT
AIM: To assess the impact on the sexuality of the couple of pelvic organ prolapse repair with coelioscopic sacrocolopoxy. MATERIAL: Pilot, prospective, monocentre study conducted in Nîmes university hospital. Consecutive patients undergoing coelioscopic sacrocolpopexy and their partner were invited to participate. Women attended a pre-surgical visit and a 6-month post-surgery visit where pelvic organ prolapse status was clinically assessed. In the same time, they and their partner filled general quality of life and specific sexual quality of life questionnaires (questionnaires PISQ12, PFDI-20 in women, medical history, IIEF, modified PISQ12 questionnaires in men). RESULTS: From May to December 2010, 25 couples were assessed. Anatomical success rates (POPQ<2) in the middle, anterior and posterior compartments were respectively of 100%, 95.4% and 66.7%. After surgery, 65.2% of pairs (n=15) reported an at least hebdomadal frequency of sexual intercourse, as compared with 54.2% (n=13) of pairs before surgery (P<0.001). Two cases of decrease of sexual intercourses frequency were reported and appeared partner-related. There was an overall non-significant improvement in sexual quality of life in men and women. General pelvic organ distress, urinary incontinence and specific pelvic organ prolapse distresses were significantly improved after surgery. CONCLUSION: Coelioscopic sacrocolpopexy does not impair couple's sexuality, assessed as sexual intercourses frequency and could even improve it. Partner's assessment can bring important information with respect to the interpretation of functional sexual results of surgery.
