Female Sexual Function Before and After Bariatric Surgery: a Cross-Sectional Study and Review of Literature

BACKGROUND: The aims of the present study were to compare sexual quality of life and prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) after surgical weight loss with controls seeking bariatric surgery, and to perform a literature review. METHODS: Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Sexual Quality of Life–Female (SQoL-F) questionnaires were sent within 12–18 months postoperatively via e-mail to 153 women who had undergone weight loss surgery (postoperative group). The control group comprised of 23 women who were asked to complete the questionnaires during their preoperative evaluation (preoperative group). The total FSFI cutoff score for a diagnosis of FSD was ≤ 26.55. RESULTS: The median (Q1, Q3) FSFI score did not differ significantly between the preoperative (26.9 [24.3, 30.7]) and postoperative groups (26.9 [22.6, 30.0]). There was no difference in the prevalence of FSD between groups. However, median scores in FSFI domains of desire and arousal were significantly higher in the postoperative group. There were no differences in the other FSFI domains. The median SQoL-F was significantly higher in the postoperative group. CONCLUSIONS: The FSFI score did not predict the SQoL-F score. The prevalence of FSD was comparable in the two groups. The higher SQoL-F score in the postoperative group may be the result of an improvement in self-esteem, which in turn leads to greater interest in sex and more intense feelings of desire and arousal.