Impact of overactive bladder and lower urinary tract symptoms on sexual health in Japanese women

Introduction and hypothesis: This study aims to assess whether lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) affect sexual function in Japanese females. Methods: A multi-component questionnaire was mailed to 576 female hospital workers. It contained the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and a self-administered questionnaire pertaining to LUTS. Results: Of the 276 responses (overall response rate, 47.9%), 146 questionnaires were evaluable. LUTS had been experienced by 72 (49.3%) of the respondents, 17 (11.6%) had urge urinary incontinence, and 35 (24.0%) had stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The mean overall FSFI score was 22.4 ± 9.0. The mean FSFI score was not significantly different between women with LUTS and women without LUTS (23.2 ± 9.3 and 21.6 ± 8.8, respectively; P = 0.057). However, the mean FSFI score of women with SUI was significantly lower than that of women without it (P = 0.04). No other symptoms showed significant differences in FSFI scores. Conclusions: Our results suggest that sexual dysfunction is related to SUI.