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CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2020; 42(08): 493-500
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713805
Original Article
Sexuality

Factors Associated with Sexual Activity for Women with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction - A Cross-Sectional Study

Fatores associados à atividade sexual de mulheres com distúrbios do assoalho pélvico - Um estudo transversal
Sandra Rebouças Macêdo 
1   Department of the Physiotherapy Course, Centro Universitário Unichristus, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
,
José Ananias Vasconcelos Neto 
2   Department of Urogynecology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
,
José Tadeu Nunes Tamanini 
3   Department of Medicine, Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
,
Leonardo Bezerra 
4   Department of Maternal and Child Health, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
,
Rodrigo Aquino Castro 
5   Department of Gynecology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Abstract

Objective To examine women with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFDs) and identify factors associated with sexual activity (SA) status that impacts quality of life (QoL).

Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study that included women > 18 years old who presented with at least one PFD symptom (urinary incontinence [UI] and/or pelvic organ prolapse [POP]), in outpatient clinics specializing in urogynecology and PFD in Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil, using a service evaluation form and QoL questionnaires.

Results The analysis of 659 women with PFD included 286 SA (43.4%) women and 373 non-sexually active (NSA) (56.6%) women, with a mean age of 54.7 (±12) years old. The results revealed that age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.12) and post-menopausal status (OR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.08–4.8) were negatively associated with SA. Being married (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.21–0.88) was associated with SA. Pelvic organ prolapse (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.81–1.68) and UI (OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.08–0.36) did not prevent SA. SF-36 Health Survey results indicated that only the domain functional capacity was significantly worse in NSA women (p = 0.012). Two King's Health Questionnaire domains in NSA women, impact of UI (p = 0.005) and personal relationships (p < 0.001), were significantly associated factors. Data from the Prolapse Quality-of-life Questionnaire indicated that NSA women exhibited compromised QoL.

Conclusion Postmenopausal status and age negatively affected SA. Being married facilitated SA. Presence of POP and UI did not affect SA. However, NSA women with POP exhibited compromised QoL.

Resumo

Objetivo Examinar mulheres com disfunções do assoalho pélvico (DAP) e identificar fatores associados ao status de atividade sexual (AS) e impacto na qualidade de vida (QV).

Métodos Realizamos um estudo transversal, no qual participaram mulheres > 18 anos, que apresentaram pelo menos um sintoma de DAP (incontinência urinária [UI] e/ou prolapso de órgão pélvico [POP]), em ambulatórios especializados em uroginecologia e DAP em Fortaleza, CE, Brasil, utilizando um formulário de avaliação de serviço e questionários de QV.

Resultados A análise de 659 mulheres com DAP incluiu 286 mulheres sexualmente ativas (SA) (43,4%) e 373 mulheres não sexualmente ativas (NSA) (56,6%), com idade média de 54,7 (±12) anos. Os resultados revelaram que idade (odds ratio [OR] = 1,07; intervalo de confiança [IC] 95%: 1,03–1,12) e status pós-menopausa (OR = 2,28; IC 95% 1,08–4,8) foram negativamente associados à atividade sexual. O casamento (OR = 0,43; IC 95% 0,21–0,88) foi associado à AS. Por outro lado, POP (OR = 1,16; IC 95% 0,81–1,68) e IU (OR = 0,17; IC 95% 0,08–0,36) não impediram a AS. Os resultados do SF-36 Health Survey indicaram que apenas a capacidade funcional do domínio (p = 0,012) foi significativamente pior em mulheres NSA. Dois domínios King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ, na sigla em inglês) em mulheres NSA, impacto da IU (p = 0,005) e relacionamento pessoal (p < 0,001), foram fatores significativamente associados. Os dados do Prolapse Quality-of-life Questionnaire (P-QoL, na sigla em inglês) indicaram que as mulheres NSA apresentavam QV comprometida.

Conclusão O status pós-menopausa e a idade afetaram negativamente a AS, enquanto o casamento facilitou a AS. A presença de POP e IU não afetou a AS. No entanto, as mulheres NSA com POP apresentaram QV comprometida.

Keywords

sexual activity - pelvic floor dysfunction - urinary incontinence - pelvic organ prolapsed

Palavras-chave

atividade sexual - disfunções do assoalho pélvico - incontinência urinária - prolapso do assoalho pélvico - qualidade de vida - quality of life

Contributors

All of the authors contributed with the project and data interpretation, the writing of the article, the critical review of the intellectual content, and with the final approval of the version to be published.




Publication History

Received: 13 September 2019

Accepted: 07 May 2020

Article published online:
08 September 2020

© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 

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