Significant resolution of female sexual dysfunction after bariatric surgery

Bond, Dale S.; Wing, Rena R.; Vithiananthan, Sivamainthan; Sax, Harry C.; Roye, G. Dean; Ryder, Beth A.; Pohl, Dieter; Giovanni, Jeannine

doi:10.1016/j.soard.2010.05.015

« Previous Next »Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases
Volume 7, Issue 1 , Pages 1-7, January 2011

Significant resolution of female sexual dysfunction after bariatric surgery

Dale S. Bond, Ph.D.
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, Providence, Rhode Island
- Correspondence: Dale S. Bond, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Miriam Hospital, Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, 196 Richmond Street, Providence, RI 02903
Rena R. Wing, Ph.D.
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, Providence, Rhode Island
Sivamainthan Vithiananthan, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
Harry C. Sax, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
G. Dean Roye, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
Beth A. Ryder, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
Dieter Pohl, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Roger Williams Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
Jeannine Giovanni, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Roger Williams Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island

Received 7 April 2010; received in revised form 19 May 2010; accepted 23 May 2010. published online 07 June 2010.

Abstract

Background

We have previously reported that most women seeking bariatric surgery have had female sexual dysfunction (FSD) as defined by the validated Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The present study examined whether FSD resolves after bariatric surgery.

Methods

A total of 54 reportedly sexually active women (43.3 ± 9.5 years) completed the FSFI preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively after a mean percentage of excess weight loss of 42.3% (laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding [n = 38], percentage of excess weight loss, 34.6% ± 15.7%; Roux-en-Y gastric bypass [n = 16], percentage of excess weight loss 60.0% ± 21.2%). The FSFI assesses sexual function across 6 domains, with higher scores indicating better sexual function. The summing of these scores yields a FSFI total score (range 2–36, with a score of ≤26.55 indicating FSD).

Results

Before surgery, 34 women (63%) had scores indicative of FSD. By 6 months postoperatively, the FSD had resolved in 23 (68%) of these 34 women, and only 1 woman had developed FSD postoperatively. In the entire sample, significant (P < .05) improvements occurred from before to after surgery on all FSFI domains. The FSFI total scores improved after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (from 24.2 ± 5.9 to 29.1 ± 4.1, P < .001) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (from 23.7 ± 7.7 to 30.0 ± 4.7, P < .001). In regression analyses, being married, younger age, and worse preoperative sexual function were related to greater sexual function improvements. Postoperatively, the participants' FSFI total scores were indistinguishable from those of published normative controls (29.4 ± 4.3 versus 30.5 ± 5.3, P = .18).

Conclusion

FSD resolved in a large percentage of women after bariatric surgery. Sexual functioning in the entire sample improved to levels consistent with those of normative controls. This improvement in sexual function did not depend on surgery type or weight loss amount and appears to be an additional benefit for women undergoing bariatric surgery.

Keywords: Sexual dysfunction, Women, Bariatric surgery, Female Sexual Function Index