Evaluation of the Relationship between the Severity of Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Female Sexual Function

Abstract

Background: Genital prolapse is one of the main health problems in women that affects various aspects of women’s lives. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pelvic prolapse and female sexual function. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on a random sample of married women (96 patients) referred to two university hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. To determine the score of sexual activity, a female sexual function questionnaire was used, which included 19 questions and five linked options. The severity of pelvic organ prolapses (POPs) and the type of prolapse were determined by clinical examination by a female resident based on the POP Quantification (POP-Q) classification system. The results were analyzed with descriptive statistical tests, Pearson’s correlation, and one-way analysis of variance with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 software. Results: About 54.2% (N = 52) of the studied women were over 40 years old, 59.3% (N = 57) had two births, and the type of delivery was normal for more than 83.4% (N = 80) of them. Cystocele and rectocele with a frequency of 66.6% (N = 64) were the most common types of prolapse observed in the studied women. 44.8% (N = 43) of the studied women had stage 2 prolapse. The results of the one-way analysis of variance showed a statistically significant relationship between the average score of sexual activity and the stage of prolapse (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Increased severity of prolapse leads to decreased sexual activity in women.