Quality of life and sexual function in obese women with pelvic floor dysfunction

Abstract

This prospective study was conducted in the urogynecology and gynecology outpatient clinics of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine from December 2014 to March 2015. The objective was to identify the association between obesity and sexual function and quality of life in women with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). A total of 387 sexually active women diagnosed with urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse were included and categorized as obese (n = 200) or nonobese (n = 187). Mean body mass indexes were 25.7 +/- 2.41 kg/m(2) for nonobese women and 34.9 +/- 3.92 kg/m(2) for obese women. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12 total score was significantly lower in obese (27.66 +/- 7.12) than in nonobese women (30.18 +/- 6.54) (p < .05). Quality of life mean scores were higher in obese women for both the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire total score (67.24 +/- 26.8 versus 49.12 +/- 27.5) and Urogenital Distress Inventory total score (65.02 +/- 21.4 versus 55.07 +/- 24.7) (p < .001). Obese women with PFD had symptoms for longer durations, had more frequent urinary incontinence, and worse sexual function and quality of life than nonobese women. Health-care professionals caring for obese women should be aware of the coexistence of obesity and PFD. Future studies should evaluate whether obesity-associated PFD can be reduced through successful weight reduction interventions.