Maryam Hajhashemi , Hedieh Bonakdarchian, Tahereh Khalili Borujeni , Minoo Movahedi , Roya Sahebi, Fedyeh Haghollahi,
Volume 83, Issue 6 (September 2025)
Abstract
Background: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a condition resulting from weakness or damage to the muscles, ligaments, and other supporting structures of the vagina, and it exposes affected women to reduced quality of life and sexual function. The present study examined the symptoms, sexual function, and quality of life of women one year after repair of pelvic organ prolapse.
Methods: This study was a prospective cohort before-after study that was conducted on 200 married women with pelvic prolapse grade 1-4 (POP-Q) in the age group of 47-75 years who underwent reconstructive surgery (anterior and posterior colporrhaphy) in Shahid Beheshti and Al-Zahra hospitals in Isfahan between October 2022 and March 2024. The data collection tools were three questionnaires: Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Pelvic Discomfort (PFDI-20) and Quality of Life (SF-36) which were completed before surgery and one year after surgery. Stata software version 17 was used to analyze the data. To compare the scores before and after, paired t-test or Wilcoxon statistical tests were used, to compare the severity of patients' clinical symptoms based on the levels before and after surgery, the symmetry/Bowker test was used, and to compare the status of the sexual function index (impairment/no impairment) before and after surgery, the McNemar test was used and the significance level was considered to be P<0.05.
Results: The mean age of the study participants was 59.5±12.6 years. The majority of the women (157 individuals; 78.5%) were housewives. The mean number of pregnancies was 4.3±2.1, and the mean number of live births was 3.75±1.89. All women included in the study were postmenopausal. The severity of clinical symptoms, sexual dysfunction index status, and median quality of life score were significant between before and after the intervention. The severity of clinical symptoms, the status of the sexual dysfunction index, and the median quality of life score showed significant differences before and after the intervention.
Conclusion: Pelvic prolapse surgery can significantly improve the quality of life and sexual function of patients one year after surgery, in addition to correcting the anatomical structure.
