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Sexual function in obese women: impact of lower urinary tract dysfunction

International Journal of Obesity volume 32, pages 1312–1318 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the impact on sexual function attributed to lower urinary tract dysfunction in a female obese population.

Design:

We performed a case–control study based on the registry of a university hospital obesity unit. A consecutive sample of women with body mass index(BMI) ⩾30 (obese) was randomly matched by age, gender and residential county to control subjects using the computerized Register of the Total Population. Data were collected by a self-reported postal survey including the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12).

Results:

The questionnaire was completed and returned by 279/446 patients (62%) and 430/892 control subjects (48%). Obese women reported significantly lesser satisfaction with their sexual life, more frequent symptoms of urinary incontinence at intercourse, more often fear of urine leakage at intercourse, a higher tendency toward avoiding intercourse and more frequent feelings of guilt and disgust during intercourse (P<0.001). While considering sexual function in a subset of women with urge or stress urinary incontinence, the overall PISQ-12 scores were significantly lower in obese women compared to their age-matched nonobese controls for both the conditions (P<0.001). In an adjusted multivariate analysis, a BMI >30 was independently associated with a significantly increased risk for sexual dysfunction (odds ratio (OR) 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–2.9), as were symptoms of urge or stress urinary incontinence (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3–3.1 and OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.7–4.0), respectively.

Conclusion:

Urge and stress urinary incontinences are more common and have greater impact on sexual function in obese women.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Obesity Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    I Melin & S Rössner

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    C Falconer & D Altman

  3. Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    D Altman

Authors
  1. I Melin
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  2. C Falconer
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  3. S Rössner
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  4. D Altman
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Correspondence to I Melin.

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Melin, I., Falconer, C., Rössner, S. et al. Sexual function in obese women: impact of lower urinary tract dysfunction. Int J Obes 32, 1312–1318 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.67

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