A longitudinal, qualitative exploration of women’s sexual recovery following surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse

BACKGROUND: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) occurs when one or more female pelvic structures descend from their anatomic position into or through the vagina. Previous quantitative research has shown that POP may adversely affect sexual activity, with mixed results regarding the impact of surgical repair of POP on women's sexual activity. OBJECTIVES: Our study addresses the need for longitudinal, qualitative research centering women's lived experiences of POP, examining women's sexual activity before and after POP surgery. DESIGN: Qualitative. METHODS: We conducted remote, longitudinal, qualitative interviews with women experiencing POP across three time points: prior to surgery, 3 months post-surgery, and 6 months post-surgery. RESULTS: Three major themes emerged elucidating women's return to sexual activity after surgical repair of POP, experiences with sexual activity prior to and post-surgery, and sexual outcomes and rewards experienced prior to and post-surgery. Women's expectations for sexual activity post-surgery were not always achieved, and recovery time was often slower than anticipated; however, most women reported improved sexual activity by 6 months post-surgery. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the complexity of women's sexual experiences before and after POP surgery. Clinical counseling around the impact of surgical repair of POP on sexual activity should include expectation management, including the timeline for recovery and which aspects of sexuality may improve.