Level of Pelvic and Sexual Distress in Women with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Background & Objective: Pelvic Floor Disorders (PFDs) are prevalent. They remain underdiagnosed, with only an estimated 25% of affected individuals seeking medical consultation. PFDs are associated with pelvic and sexual distress. This study was conducted with aim to assess pelvic and sexual distress in women with pelvic floor dysfunctions in Iran.Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 275 women with pelvic floor dysfunctions. Data, including age, BMI, education, economic status, comorbidity, number of pregnancies, abortions, and children were collected. The Revised Women's Sexual Distress Questionnaire (FSDS-R) and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Questionnaire (PFDI-20) were used. Data was analyzed using SPSS software (version 26). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: There were no significant relationships between pelvic distress and sexual distress scores with age, Body Mass Index (BMI), education, spouse's age, comorbidity, menopause, number of children, pregnancies, and abortions. The mean pelvic distress score was 60.74±34.64, and the mean sexual distress score was 15.27±22.67. Distress scores were 18.09±14.48 for pelvic organ prolapse, 15.15±10.71 for colorectal-anal distress, and 27.65±16.65 for urinary distress. There was a significant relationship between pelvic distress and economic status (P=0.020), and comorbidity (P=0.001). Sexual distress had a significant relationship with delivery type (P=0.048).Conclusion: The findings suggest the need for further research to understand the interrelationships between multiple symptoms and underlying factors contributing to sexual complaints.