Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Female Pelvic Floor Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of weight loss on urinary incontinence (UI), pelvic organ prolapse, colorectal-anal complaints, and sexual dysfunction among obese women undergoing bariatric surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred sixty consecutive women who underwent bariatric surgery were prospectively enrolled. Four validated questionnaires (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-UI [ICIQ-UI], Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms-SF [BFLUTS-SF], Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 [PFDI-20], and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12 [PISQ-12]) were used to evaluate pelvic floor disorders and sexual dysfunction before and 3-6 months after surgery.

RESULTS: One hundred fifty participants (mean age: 43 ± 12.8 years; mean preoperative body mass index: 42 ± 4.6 kg/m2 ) completed all pre- and postoperative questionnaires. Preoperatively, 56 (37.3%) women had UI, 44 (29.3%) women had pelvic organ prolapse symptoms, and 66 (44%) women had colorectal-anal symptoms. Overall, surgically induced weight loss was associated with statistically significant improvement in UI (mean ICIQ score: 9.3 ± 3.9 vs 3.3 ± 3.8, P <.001), pelvic organ prolapse symptoms (mean PFDI score: 19 ± 13.2 vs 11 ± 12.8, P <.001), and colorectal-anal symptoms (mean PFDI score: 21 ± 15.9 vs 14 ± 14.9, P = .004). Moreover, half of preoperatively incontinent women and more than one quarter of women who had either pelvic organ prolapse or colorectal-anal symptoms reported complete resolution of their symptoms. Statistically significant improvement in sexual function was suggested by both BFLUTS-SF (0.3 ± 0.8 vs 0.1 ± 0.6; P = .011) and PISQ-12 (37.9 ± 6.1 vs 39.5 ± 5; P = .003) questionnaires.

CONCLUSION: Surgically induced weight loss was associated with a significant improvement in pelvic floor disorders, including UI, pelvic organ prolapse, and colorectal-anal symptoms, as well as improved sexual performance.