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Evaluation of sexual function in sexually active women 1 year after transvaginal NOTES: a prospective cohort study of 106 patients

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Abstract

Purpose

The primary objective of this prospective cohort study was to investigate sexual function, quality of life and patient satisfaction in sexually active women 1 year after transvaginal hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES).

Patients and methods

This prospective single-centre cohort study included sexually active female patients after transvaginal hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy or anterior resection. Sexual life impairment and quality of life were assessed by the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) prior and 1 year after surgery. Patient satisfaction was assessed as well as the sexual function 1 year postoperatively using the validated German version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-D).

Results

Between September 2008 and December 2009, 106 sexually active women after transvaginal hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy or anterior resection were identified. Sexual life significantly improved (GIQLI scores 3.2 ± 1.0 preoperatively vs. 3.7 ± 0.7 1 year postoperatively, P < 0.001), and painful sexual intercourse (3.3 ± 1.0 vs. 3.6 ± 0.7, P = 0.008) decreased post-surgery. The mean FSFI-D total score after transvaginal NOTES was 28.1 ± 4.6, exceeding the cutoff for sexual dysfunction defined as 26. Four (4.5 %) out of 88 patients who answered this question were not satisfied with the transvaginal hybrid NOTES procedure.

Conclusions

This prospective cohort study of female sexual function after transvaginal NOTES provides compelling evidence that the transvaginal access is safe and associated with high satisfaction rate.

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Conflicts of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General, Abdominal and Transplant Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Georg R. Linke

  2. Department of Surgery, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Stephanie Luz, Joanna Janczak, Bruno M. Schmied, René Warschkow, Ulrich Beutner & Ignazio Tarantino

  3. Department of Surgery, Kantonsspital Bruderholz, 4101, Bruderholz, Switzerland

    Andreas Zerz

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Ikbale Siercks

  5. Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    René Warschkow

Authors
  1. Georg R. Linke
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  2. Stephanie Luz
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  3. Joanna Janczak
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  4. Andreas Zerz
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  5. Bruno M. Schmied
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  6. Ikbale Siercks
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  7. René Warschkow
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  8. Ulrich Beutner
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  9. Ignazio Tarantino
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ignazio Tarantino.

Additional information

Previous communication: 98th Annual Meeting of the Swiss Society for Surgery, Geneva 2011

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Linke, G.R., Luz, S., Janczak, J. et al. Evaluation of sexual function in sexually active women 1 year after transvaginal NOTES: a prospective cohort study of 106 patients. Langenbecks Arch Surg 398, 139–145 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-012-0993-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-012-0993-x

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