The impact of TVT on sexual function

The aim of this study was to evaluate sexual function in women before and after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure. In this questionnaire-based study, 100 women undergoing TVT for stress incontinence were assessed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively using a validated pelvic floor symptoms assessment questionnaire. The incidence and impact of TVT on orgasm incontinence, penetration incontinence, anxiety related to bladder problems during sex, avoidance of intercourse, and overall impact on sex life were assessed. Incontinence during intercourse was reported in 68% of women preoperatively. Following TVT, there were significant reductions in orgasm incontinence, penetration incontinence, anxiety regarding the bladder and sex, avoidance of sex, post-coital infection, and overall impact of lower urinary tract symptoms on sex. There was a non-significant reduction in partner avoidance of sex. TVT significantly improves the overall sex lives of women with stress urinary incontinence. Orgasm incontinence, penetration incontinence, post-coital infections, anxiety, and avoidance of sex are all reduced. This study was conducted at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2SF, UK.     

无张力性吊带术治疗女性压力性尿失禁

目的探讨无张力阴道吊带术(tension-free vaginal tape，TVT)治疗女性压力性尿失禁的疗效。方法13例经尿动力学检查证实为压力性尿失禁在连续硬膜外麻醉下经阴道前壁行无张力阴道吊带术，低平截石位，经阴道前壁向上穿刺尿道两侧间隙，从耻骨上腹壁引出TVT吊带，调整张力，关闭切口。结果手术时间15～45min，平均35min。13例随访6～24个月，平均13个月，12例治愈，1例改善，无尿失禁复发或排尿困难。结论TVT操作简单，创伤小，手术时间短，术后恢复快，治疗压力性尿失禁疗效好。     

The very obese woman and the very old woman: tension-free vaginal tape for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence

A mailed questionnaire was sent to 970 consecutive women who underwent a tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure between 1995 and 2001 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Falun Hospital. Seven hundred and sixty (78.4%) women responded. The outcome was compared between women older than 75 years (n=113) and younger women, and between women with a body mass index (BMI) above 35 (n=61) and those who had normal weight. Mean follow-up was 5.7 years. Thirty-six elderly women and one of the obese women were deceased at the long-term follow-up. TVT was easy to perform and was a safe procedure for women in all groups. There was a sharp decrease in cure rate of any urinary incontinence problems among women aged 75 years or more (55.7%), as compared to those who were younger (79.7%). The cure rate moderately decreased from BMI groups 19–24 to 30–34. BMI ≥35 seemed to be the best explanatory cutoff level. The overall cure rate in women of normal weight was 81.2%, as compared to 52.1% in the very obese. The cure rate for urinary incontinence with tension-free vaginal tape in women above 75 years of age and in women with a BMI above 35 was acceptable, but lower as compared to the remaining study population.     

Female sexual function following surgery for stress urinary incontinence: tension-free vaginal versus transobturator tape procedure

The aim of this study was to compare sexual function outcome following tension-free vaginal (TVT) versus transobturator tape (TOT) for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). All women who underwent TVT or TOT procedures for SUI with no concomitant prolapse repair between January 2002 and July 2007 were sent a retrospective pre-post questionnaire. Eighty-one and 64 women were sexually active before and after TVT and TOT procedures, respectively. Sexual function outcome did not differ pre- and postoperatively for the TVT and TOT groups, and postoperatively between the two groups. Responders reported an improvement of intercourse satisfaction in 23 (29.5%) and 21 (32.9%) cases, whereas 14 (17.3%) and eight (12.5%) complained of sexual function deterioration after TVT and TOT procedure, respectively (p = 0.43). This study suggests that anti-incontinence surgery can have a positive and negative outcome on sexual function, with no significant differences between the TVT and TOT procedures.     

Long-term results of tension-free vaginal tape for female urinary incontinence: Follow up over 6 years

OBJECTIVE: To describe the long-term outcome of using tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) with and without associated procedures. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to a population of 61 women who had undergone TVT surgery more than 6 years ago. Of this population, 41 (80%) had suffered from stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The questionnaire included questions about urinary symptoms, satisfaction and quality of life. The questionnaire was answered by 51 of the 61 women. RESULTS: Mean follow up was 83 months. The women with SUI had a persistent cure rate of 80% with a satisfaction rate of 97%. The cure rate after 6 years was 37% in women with mixed incontinence. Concomitant hysterectomy (relative risks = 0.87) and body mass index (BMI) do not alter the long-term results of TVT procedure. Peroperative bladder injury is not associated with an increased risk of long-term lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) or with a decreased satisfaction rate (relative risks = 0.85). CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant hysterectomy, increased BMI and bladder injury do not alter good long-term results of TVT.     

Sexual function after tension-free vaginal tape procedure

INTRODUCTION: Aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the sexual function of women after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To evaluate the female sexual function after the TVT procedure, we designed a 36-item questionnaire including 21 questions on incontinence, 15 questions on sexuality and 3 questions on the personal impression of the procedure. Diagnostic workup consisted of a detailed medical history, urinalysis, postvoid residual urine volume assessment, ultrasound of the kidney and a urodynamic study. RESULTS: Fifty-two women completed the entire questionnaire. Overall, 82.7% of the women were satisfied with the TVT procedure. A proportion of 74.0% indicated that they became totally continent after the operation. One third of the sexually active women reported an improvement of their sexual life after TVT, 14.3% a worsening, and 52.4% reported no change. Deterioration of sexual function was significantly associated with de novo urge, dyspareunia and sensation of postvoid residual urine volume. CONCLUSION: In summary, our investigations showed that the influence of the TVT procedure on female sexual function is evident, but of low impact, and in general will not be of relevance.     

The effect of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure on sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) on sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) by questionnaire. Thirty-two sexually active and married women who were planned for TVT to treat SUI constituted the patient group, and 25 women who were healthy, sexually active and married, were selected as the control group; the ages of both groups matched. Sexual functions (desire, arousal, orgasm, pain and satisfaction) were evaluated with the Index of Female Sexual Function (IFSF), and continence status during sexual intercourse was asked about both preoperatively and postoperatively in the 6th month. The mean domain scores of sexual functions such as desire, arousal, orgasm, pain and overall satisfaction preoperatively and postoperatively were 3.37±0.69, 3.82±0.62, 3.40±0.95, 3.41±0.98, 3.16±1.09 and 3.32±0.79, 3.71±0.53, 3.06±1.04, 2.75±1.29, 2.88±0.63, respectively, and postoperative scores insignificantly decreased. Also, these scores in the control group were 3.64±0.66, 3.96±0.73, 4.12±0.78, 3.96±1.14 and 3.68±0.92. In comparison with the control group, whereas all of the preoperative domain scores were found to be decreased but were statistically insignificant except orgasmic function, postoperative scores significantly worsened, except for desire and arousal. However, preoperatively nine patients explained that they had incontinence during sexual intercourse, and this problem persisted in twopostoperatively (p = 0.043). This study shows that both SUI and the TVT procedure negatively affect sexual function in women.Abbreviations FSD Female sexual dysfunction - SUI Stress urinary incontinence - TVT Tension-free vaginal tape Editorial Comment: This study examines female sexual function in relation to SUI and the TVT procedure. The conclusion is that as a rule SUI negatively affects female sexual function. A successful TVT procedure does not improve patients perception of sexual function. Counseling for sexual dysfunction should therefore be part of the preoperative investigation.     

Incontinence-related quality of life and sexual function following the tension-free vaginal tape versus the “inside–out” tension-free vaginal tape obturator

The objective of this cohort study was to compare morbidity, quality of life, and sexual function in stress-incontinent women treated with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) versus tension-free vaginal tape obturator (TVT-O) in a group of 329. Preoperative scores of the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) were compared to those from a mailed, postoperative questionnaire. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) and three additional questions were also included in the mailing. Of the initial 329 patients, 239 (73%) completed the questionnaire with a mean follow-up of 14.7 months. Complications, return to normal voiding, and operative time were less in the TVT-O group. Postoperative PISQ-12 scores and improvements in the UDI-6 and IIQ-7 were comparable between groups. The TVT-O procedure appears to be as effective in improving incontinence-related quality of life as the TVT. No differences in sexual function were demonstrated between groups.     

Sexual function after using tension-free vaginal tape for the surgical treatment of genuine stress incontinence

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the use of the tension-free vaginal polypropylene tape (TVT) procedure for the treatment of genuine stress incontinence (GSI) affects sexual activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven women treated by insertion of a TVT between September 1998 and March 2001 for GSI were sent questionnaires 6-36 months after surgery to determine any urinary symptoms, sexual activity, patient satisfaction and the use of hormone-replacement therapy. RESULTS: The questionnaire was returned by 57 patients (87%); 43 (76%) reported being sexually active and 14 (25%) were not. Of the former, 31 (72%) reported no change in sexual function after surgery and only two reported an improvement; six (14%) reported that sexual function was worse and four did not reply to the questions. The patients reporting that sexual function was worse cited loss of libido as the main reason. No patients complained of dyspareunia. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant change in sexual function or activity after the TVT procedure and patients can thus be reassured that this operation will not affect their sex life.     

Impact of tension-free vaginal tape on sexual function: results of a prospective study

The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess the impact of a TVT insertion for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) on coital incontinence and overall sexual life. Sexually active women with pure SUI and without concomitant pelvic organ prolapse scheduled for TVT procedure completed a sexual function questionnaire at baseline and 6 months after surgery. Fifty-three patients were enrolled. Preoperatively 23 (43.4%) women experienced urine leakage during intercourse, 21 (91%) during penetration and 2 (9%) on orgasm. The objective cure rate for SUI was 98%. Coital incontinence was cured in 20 of 23 patients (87%). Thirty-three (62.2%) women reported no change in sexual function after surgery and 18 (34%) reported an improvement. Of the latter, 17 (94%) were of those cured from coital incontinence. No significant difference in the incidence of dyspareunia was found postoperatively. Two patients (3.8%) reported intercourse to be worse following surgery, one because of a vaginal erosion and one cited de novo anorgasmia as the main reason.     

Suburethral tape via the obturator route: is the TOT a simplification of the TVT?

Suburethral meshes can be implanted via the classic retropubic route (TVT) or by a new insertion technique that passes the tape into the obturator foramen (TOT). In a retrospective study we compared one 18-month period of 94 TOT (tension-free obturator tape) and one 18-month period of 99 TVT (tension-free vaginal tape), which preceded the change in the approach route. All operations were performed by the same surgeon using the same Prolene mesh and withno other surgical procedure associated. These two series were similar in terms of patient age, previous surgical history, degree of incontinence and preoperative urethral closure pressure. The analysis shows morehemorrhagic complications in the TVT group (10%) than in the TOT group (2%), but the difference was not significant. Bladder injuries were more frequent in the TVT group (10%) than in the TOT group (0%), but there was one urethral injury in the TOT group. The mean follow-up was 29.5 months in the TVT group and 12.8 months in the TOT group. The urinary results were the same, with 90% and 95% cured, respectively. In conclusion, the obturator approach shows identical urinary results to the classic retropubic approach. Because of the nature of the procedure, major hemorrhage and bowel perforation are excluded in the TOT procedure. Thus simplicity, safety and continence result mean that the obturator approach represents the best method of suburethral tape insertion for the treatment of urinary stress incontinence.Abbreviations TOT Tension-free obturator tape - TVT Tension-free vaginal tapeEditorial Comment: These authors describe a comparison between tension-free vaginal tape and a new transobturator midurethral sling procedure. Although the study is significantly limited because of its non-concurrent, non-randomized design, and by the fact that follow-up was done via telephone with only 75% of patients, the authors do show that there are early data to suggest that the transobturator technique may have similar efficacy and fewer side effects than the tension-free vaginal tape technique.     

Spontaneous delivery following tension-free vaginal tape procedure

There has been no report in the international literature concerning vaginal delivery following tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure. Most gynecologists recommend cesarean section after TVT procedure. We present the case of a 37-year-old (gravida 2, para 2) woman who had spontaneous delivery at 40 weeks’ gestation after TVT procedure performed 10 months prior because of stress urinary incontinence. Five months after spontaneous delivery, the patient was shown to be continent, with no urinary leakage occurring following stress maneuver. Urodynamic evaluation showed normal urethral pressure profile and sufficient maximum urethral closure pressure. Introital ultrasound demonstrated the correct position of the Prolene tape. In cases of pregnancy following TVT procedure, a general recommendation of delivery by cesarean section may be questioned, since the function and correct suburethral position of the Prolene tape can also remain intact following vaginal delivery.     

A review of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure: Outcomes, complications, and theories

In the last century, the pathophysiology of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) has been investigated and several surgical techniques have been utilized for cure. The most recent evolution in the study of SUI is the minimally invasive tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure, which can be done under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation and is individualized for each patient. The procedure recreates the “hammock” of the anterior vaginal wall and endopelvic fascia with a mesh tape of polypropylene. The cure rates of the initial studies are equal to or better than other anti-incontinence procedures, and the permanent supportive mesh is very well tolerated. The TVT creates a backboard on which the urethra compresses itself when it rotates posteriorly during cough or stress. The procedure accomplishes subjective and objective cure without elevating the bladder neck or altering urethral mobility.     

Tension-free vaginal tape procedure for the treatment of mixed urinary incontinence: significance of maximal urethral closure pressure

PURPOSE: We investigated factors predicting persistent urge incontinence after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure in patients with mixed urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 1999 and May 2003 female patients with complaints of urinary incontinence were evaluated according to our protocol. After the tension-free vaginal tape procedure patients were followed at 1, 6 and 12 months, and yearly thereafter. A total of 274 women (stress urinary incontinence in 201 and mixed urinary incontinence in 73) with followup at least greater than 6 months were included in the study. The cure of stress induced incontinence after the procedure was defined as an absent subjective complaint of leakage and objective leakage on stress testing. All other cases were considered failures. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the cure rate for stress induced incontinence between patients with stress and mixed urinary incontinence. However, 12 of 73 patients (16.4%) with mixed urinary incontinence had persistent urge incontinence. Thus, the overall cure rate was significantly higher in the stress incontinence group than in the mixed incontinence group (95.5% vs 78.1%, p <0.001). On multivariate analysis maximal urethral closure pressure was associated with a 0.9-fold risk of persistent urge incontinence after the procedure in patients with mixed urinary incontinence (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99, p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that low maximal urethral closure pressure may be associated with persistent urge incontinence after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure in patients with mixed urinary incontinence.     

Tension-free vaginal tape and associated procedures: a case control study

OBJECTIVES: We compare objective and subjective cure rates after tension-free vaginal tape procedures performed alone or in conjunction with vaginal procedures. METHODS: One hundred eighty-six women underwent a tension-free vaginal tape procedure for stress or mixed urinary incontinence. One hundred women treated with tension-free vaginal tape alone (group 1) were compared with 40 women treated with tension-free vaginal tape and concomitant vaginal hysterectomy (group 2), and 46 patients treated with tension-free vaginal tape and pelvic floor reconstruction (group 3). Patient outcomes, surgical difficulties and complications are reported. Postoperative voiding diaries, standing stress-test results, and patient satisfaction were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the three groups in terms of age, menopausal status, BMI, previous incontinence surgery, or the type and degree of incontinence. Parity was significantly higher in the group treated with tension-free vaginal tape and pelvic floor reconstruction ( p=0.04 ). The overall perioperative complication rate was 15.6%. Women treated with tension-free vaginal tape and hysterectomy (group 2), and those treated with tension-free vaginal tape and pelvic floor reconstruction (group 3) had a significantly higher incidence of bladder injury (17.9% and 13%, respectively, versus 5% in group 1; p=0.05 ). Estimated blood loss and the frequencies of postoperative urgency and voiding disorders did differ significantly between women treated with tension-free vaginal tape alone and those who underwent associated procedures. The mean follow-up time was 24.5+/-2.6 months. No difference in the objective cure rate was found between the tension-free vaginal tape group and the other two groups (93% versus 97.5% and 91.1%; p=0.3 ). No difference in the subjective cure rate was found between the tension-free vaginal tape group and the groups undergoing associated procedures (72% versus 72.5% and 68.8%; p=0.4). CONCLUSION: Pelvic floor defects, benign uterine disorders and stress urinary incontinence can be safely treated with tension-free vaginal tape and vaginal procedures during the same surgical procedure.     

Female urinary incontinence: patient-reported outcomes 1?year after midurethral sling operations

Introduction and hypothesis

Although midurethral slings have become standard surgical methods to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI), little is known about women who still have urinary incontinence (UI) after surgery. This study assesses and compares the patient-reported outcome 12?months after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), tension-free vaginal tape-obturator (TVT-O), and transobturator tape (TOT), with a special focus on women who still have urinary leakage postoperatively.

Methods

This study analyzed preoperative and 12-month postoperative data from 3,334 women registered in the Swedish National Quality Register for Gynecological Surgery.

Results

Among the women operated with TVT (n?=?2,059), TVT-O (n?=?797), and TOT (n?=?478), 67?%, 62?%, and 61?%, respectively, were very satisfied with the result at the 1-year follow-up. There was a significantly higher chance of becoming continent after TVT compared with TOT. In total, 977 women (29?%) still had some form of urinary leakage postoperatively. Among the postoperatively incontinent women who expressed a negative impact of UI on family, social, work, and sexual life preoperatively, considerably fewer reported a negative impact in all domains after surgery. Of those in the postoperatively incontinent group who had coital incontinence preoperatively, 63?% reported a cure of coital incontinence.

Conclusions

The proportion of women very satisfied with the result of the operation did not differ between the three groups. TVT had a higher SUI cure rate than did TOT. Despite urinary leakage 1-year postoperatively, half of the women were satisfied with the result of the operation.     

Preoperative maximal flow rate may be a predictive factor for the outcome of tension-free vaginal tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence

This study examined factors potentially predicting on the outcome of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure for stress urinary incontinence. A total of 60 women (aged 35–71 years, mean 57) with at least follow-up of 2 years were included in the study. The tension-free vaginal tape procedure was performed under local anesthesia except in two patients. At the latest follow-up 50 (83.3%) were cured of stress urinary incontinence. Two patients had new-onset urge symptoms without urge incontinence episodes. Multivariate regression analysis showed maximal flow rate to be associated with 0.9-fold risk of the failure; no other parameters had statistical significance. Our results confirm the feasibility and safety of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure and demonstrate that preoperative low maximal flow rate may be associated with the failure of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure.Editorial comment: The authors in this study evaluated the outcome of the tension-free vaginal tape based on subjective and objective parameters and evaluated possible predictors of failure associated with this procedure using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Their rates of cure, improvement, and failure of, respectively, 83.3%, 11.7%, and 5.0% are comparable to those of other studies. Of all the clinical parameters evaluated they found only one statistically significant variable associated with outcome. Higher preoperative maximal flow rate was associated with a decreased likelihood of failure. The authors propose several hypotheses to explain for this finding, including poor detrusor contractility, low urethral mobility during the voiding phase, and low urethral pressure. To provide clinical usefulness one needs to determine at what cutoff does maximum flow rate become a risk factor for failure of the TVT.     

TVT-O vs. TVT for the treatment of SUI: a non-inferiority study

Introduction and hypothesis  

This study aimed to prospectively compare, in terms of efficacy and safety, the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and the transobturator vaginal tape inside-out (TVT-O) procedure for stress urinary incontinence.     

A prospective trial comparing tension-free vaginal tape and transobturator vaginal tape inside-out for the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: 1-year followup

PURPOSE: We prospectively compared the efficacy and safety of tension-free vaginal tape and transobturator vaginal tape inside-out for female stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 women with stress urinary incontinence were alternately assigned to the tension-free vaginal tape group (60) or the transobturator vaginal tape inside-out group (60). Preoperative evaluation included urodynamic study and a Korean version of the incontinence quality of life questionnaire. One year after operation the surgical result, patient satisfaction, incontinence quality of life questionnaire, long-term complications and uroflowmetry were evaluated in the 2 groups. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were comparable in the 2 groups. Mean +/- SD operative time was significantly shorter in the transobturator vaginal tape inside-out vs the tension-free vaginal tape group (11 +/- 1.4 vs 15 +/- 1.8 minutes). In the transobturator vaginal tape inside-out and the tension-free vaginal tape groups the rates of cure (86.8% and 86.8%), improvement (6.6% and 8.2%) and failure (6.6% and 5.0%, respectively) were similar. Incontinence quality of life questionnaire parameters 1 year after surgery were improved significantly in each group and there was no difference between the 2 groups (p <0.001 and >0.05, respectively). There was no long-term complication in either group. Preoperative urge incontinence resolved in 80% of the tension-free vaginal tape group and in 100% of the transobturator vaginal tape inside-out group. De novo urgency developed in 4 patients (6.6%) in the transobturator vaginal tape inside-out group. CONCLUSIONS: The tension-free vaginal tape and transobturator vaginal tape inside-out procedures were minimally invasive and similar in operation related morbidity. Transobturator vaginal tape inside-out appeared to be as effective and safe as tension-free vaginal tape for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women at 1-year followup.     

无张力阴道吊带术治疗女性压力性尿失禁(附20例报告)

目的 评价无张力阴道吊带术(tension-free vaginal tape，TVT)治疗女性压力性尿失禁的疗效。方法 总结采用TVT术治疗女性压力性尿失禁20例的临床资料。结果 平均手术时间26.5min。拔除尿管后，19例病人控尿满意，1例仍有轻微尿失禁。术后平均随访12(3-24)个月，20例病人均无尿失禁。合并症有1例膀胱穿孔，1例术后轻度排尿不畅，2例尿频尿急。结论 TVT术操作简便快捷，创伤小，合并症少，术后康复快，是一种治疗女性压力性尿失禁的理想方法。