Sexual function in women suffering from aortoiliac occlusive disease

Objective: to describe the sexual function in women suffering aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) and in an age-matched reference group. Patients and methods: thirty-six women suffering from AIOD were included. Twenty were investigated before vascular intervention (untreated) and it different women after treatment (treated). Eighteen age-matched women served as a reference group. The patients answered a questionnaire including sexual, social and medical questions and a gynaecological examination was performed. Results: untreated patients with AIOD have a significantly impaired physical well-being compared to the other groups (p<0.001). A negative effect of the vascular disease and its treatment on sexual life was experienced by 69% of treated compared to 40% affected among untreated (p=0.05). Vulval sensibility was impaired in 44% of treated, 11% of untreated and 22% of reference patients. Defective anal sphincter function was found in 33% of treated, 17% of untreated and 6% in the reference group. Those differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: symptomatic AIOD in women is associated with a significantly impaired physical and sexual well-being. Though limited by size and methodology, the results indicate the possibility of iatrogenic nerve damage.