Background: The aim of this questionnaire study dealing with women with stress urinary incontinence was to find out what influence incontinence and operation for incontinence in the form of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) or intravaginal slingplasty operation (IVS) had on the patient's sexuality and if there were any adverse effects on sexuality after the operation.
Methods: Eighty-four patients were operated on from April 1998 to September 2002. A questionnaire was sent to all patients with questions concerning their sexuality before and after the operation.
Results: Sixty-seven patients (81%) answered the questionnaire. Before the operation 53 patients (79%) were sexually active and 26 patients (49%) experienced incontinence during intercourse. Only one patient (0.01%) stated the incontinence as the reason for not being sexually active. No patients developed de novo incontinence during intercourse after the operation. Half of the patients who were cured of their incontinence during intercourse experienced a better sexual life. Five patients (7%) cited reduced libido after the operation and two patients (3%) felt the operation to be the cause.
Conclusion: Among sexually active women with stress urinary incontinence referred for suburethral sling operation 49% experienced incontinence during intercourse and half of the cured patients in this group experienced a better sexual life after the operation. Incontinence affects sexual life to a great extend. Two patients (4%) experienced less libido after the operation and found the operation to be the cause of this. The risk of deterioration of sexual life after the operation is very small. Further investigation into this subject is needed.