Effect of Sling Surgery for Urinary Incontinence on the Sexual Functions of Patients: A Prospective Study

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) has been demonstrated to exert a detrimental effect on the quality of life of affected women, particularly with regard to their sexual function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in sexual function among patients with SUI following sling surgery. Methods: A total of 83 patients who sought treatment at our clinic for SUI and underwent mid-urethral sling (MUS) surgery were included in the study. Demographic data, preoperative laboratory results, residual urine volumes, and baseline sexual function status were systematically documented. Results: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), with a defined cut-off score of 26.55. Surgical success was defined by the absence of SUI, which was achieved in 80 patients (96.3%). The mean FSFI score increased from 19.04 preoperatively to 24.47 postoperatively. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that age, body mass index (BMI), education level, and menopausal status had no significant impact on FSFI scores. However, incontinence severity, coital incontinence, and diabetes mellitus (DM) were significantly affected with FSFI scores (p = 0.043, 0.028, and 0.019, respectively). Additionally, the difference in dyspareunia rates was statistically significant (p = 0.017). MUS surgery effectively treats SUI and improves FSFI scores. Conclusion: This improvement was statistically significant among patients with severe incontinence, coital incontinence, and those without DM. However, the presence of dyspareunia may lead to a decline in sexual function postoperatively.