Sexual Dysfunctions in Obese Women Before and After Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Background Obesity and associated comorbidities increase the probability of sexual disorders. The present study evaluated sexual satisfaction levels in obese women prior to and following bariatric surgery, utilizing the validated Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to also evaluate the sexual satisfaction in obese and non-obese women. Material/Methods 60 obese women (mean initial BMI of 43.7±5.9 kg/m 2 ; mean age of 41.7±10.8 years) were administered the questionnaire on sexual function (FSFI) preceding bariatric surgery (laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, 22 women; gastric plication, 33 women; and biliopancreatic diversion, 5 women), 6 months and 12 months after the procedure, i.e., following substantial weight reduction (final mean BMI of 35.5±5.5 kg/m 2 ). The control group comprised 60 non-obese women (mean BMI of 22.2±1.9kg/m 2 ; mean age of 36.4±10.7 years). Results Our findings indicate that baseline sexual function in the preoperative obese females was significantly lower than in non-obese women, with p<0.01 in each domain. Data gathered at the 6- and 12-month points following the procedure indicated no significant difference. Before the procedure, 31 obese subjects (51.6%) exceeded the cutoff for FSD, at the 6-month evaluation point, 17 women (39.5%) exceeded the cutoff, and at 12 months postoperatively, 18 subjects (41.9%) exceeded the cutoff, indicative of FSD. Among the non-obese controls, only 9 subjects (15%) exceeded the cutoff threshold. Conclusions These findings show that substantive weight reduction resulting from bariatric surgery results in reduced sexual dysfunction in female subjects.

Bariatric surgery has positive effects on patients’ and their partners’ sexual function: A prospective study

“…In another study, there was a statistically significant change observed in all subdomains of FSFI, except desire, at the sixth month after surgery 25 . In addition, Pichlerova et al’s study, which compared 60 obese and 60 control patients, showed that the FSFI values increased after bariatric surgery but never reached the values recorded in the control group 26 . Recently, Olivera et al compared sex positions after bariatric surgery and found that the number of sex positions that the couples engaged in increased after the operation.…”

Review: Sex-Specific Aspects in the Bariatric Treatment of Severely Obese Women

“…Two follow-up surveys of 60 and 43 women in the Czech Republic and France, respectively, showed amelioration in all FSFI domains 12 months after bariatric surgery, although in the Czech survey it was only significant regarding the desire category [15,23]. Nevertheless, the scores of the surveyed women remained significantly lower than those of the non-obese female reference group [15]. These results concur with those of Janik et al, who found significantly higher FSFI scores in the desire and arousal domains for 153 women 12-18 months after bariatric surgery.…”

“…In women, this correlation links obesity to disorders of the female cycle and hormone regulation, which are in turn associated with sexual function. Poor self-acceptance of body image, comorbid mental disorders, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships may aggravate the situation [15].…”

Reproductive outcomes after bariatric surgery in women

“…Improvement in sex-hormone profile [16] Bariatric surgery and PCOS Weight loss; improvement in insulin resistance; decrease of hirsutism score; restoration of menstrual cycles and/or ovulation [27] Bariatric surgery and anti-Mullerian hormone Normalization of the AMH levels among obese PCOS women [32] Sexual dysfunction in obese women and effects of bariatric surgery Female sexual function resolved after surgical treatment [38]. Weight reduction after bariatric surgery results in reduced sexual dysfunction in female subjects [41] Bariatric surgery and pregnancy Bariatric surgery reduces gestational diabetes, pregnancy induced hypertension and macrosomia and increases risk for SGA and prematurity [47,48] PCOS polycystic ovary syndrome, AMH anti-Mullerian Hormone, SGA Small for Gestational Age pregnancy complications risk are common findings among obese PCOS women [24]. A rise of obesity in PCOS patients may induce the appearance of reproductive and cardiovascular disease [25].…”