Sexual Function of Women With Deep Endometriosis Before and After Surgery: A Prospective Study

Background: Deep endometriosis (DE) may significantly affect women's quality of life. Limited data exists on the effect of surgery on the several domains of sexual function. Aim: To prospectively compare various domains of sexual function before and after laparoscopic surgery for DE. Methods: A prospective observational cohort study in a tertiary university-affiliated referral center. Patients with suspected DE who were planned to undergo laparoscopic surgery completed the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire before surgery. The same questionnaire was completed by the participants 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Rate of sexual dysfunction over time was compared using multilevel logistic regression. Summary scores were then compared at each time point to the corresponding score before surgery using multilevel linear regression. Multivariable analysis was performed of potential confounders. Outcomes: Change in desire, arousal, orgasm, lubrication, satisfaction and pain summary scores as well as in the full-scale score between before and after surgery. Results: We followed 149 patients with surgically confirmed DE. Sexual dysfunction rate as per the full-scale score was 75.5% before surgery and remained over 60% to 12 months after. The full-scale sexual function score improved at 6 (change in score = 2.8 +/- 9.5, P = .004) and 12 months (change in score = 2.1 +/- 9.9, P = .03). None of the summary scores improved at 6 weeks. Desire score (P < .001), arousal score (P = .02), and pain score (P = .01) improved at 6 months. Desire score (P = .03) and pain score (P = .01) also improved at 12 months, as compared to before surgery. On multivariable multilevel analysis, scores before surgery significantly contributed to the scores after surgery (P < .001). Clinical translation: While sexual function improved after surgery, dysfunction rate remained substantial. Proper preoperative counseling should address sexual function measures and clinical and research attention should be given to seek ways to further reduce sexual dysfunction. Strengths and limitations: The main strengths of our study are the prospective design, the relatively long follow-up and the use of a detailed validated questionnaire allowing assessment of a large variety of clinically relevant sexual function domains and scores as well as a full-scale score. Among our limitations are the lower response rate at 12 months and the limited generalizability as this is a single center study. Conclusion: Sexual function is a major and often under reported domain of quality of life. Further research is needed to identify the specific populations who may improve, not change or experience deterioration in their sexual functioning after surgery. Copyright (C) 2021, International Society of Sexual Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study aimed to compare the domains of sexual function before and after laparoscopic surgery for deep endometriosis (DE), finding that while sexual function improved post-surgery, dysfunction rate remained high and preoperative scores significantly affected postoperative scores.