It has been recognized that addressing obesity through bariatric surgery may benefit people in terms of improvement in one’s medical condition, medical experts say, quoting results of several clinical trials. This method of weight reduction does not only help in managing diabetes, heart problems, and other illnesses, but may also improve a woman’s sexual function, according to a study which was published online recently in JAMA Surgery and submitted during the Obesity Society Annual Scientific Meeting.
Together with a team of researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Dr. David B. Sarwer conducted a study with the objective of determining changes in sexual function, sex hormone levels, and relevant psychosocial variables in women. According to Dr. Sarwer, this study is significant since sexual health is a key component of quality of life but is often overlooked in weight reduction studies.
Involved in the study were 106 women who underwent weight loss surgery in two of the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery centers from 2006 to 2009. Of this number, 85 had a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass while the remaining 21 women underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. The subjects had an average age of 41 years, mean weight of 123.6 kilograms, and an average of 44.5 kg/m2 for their body mass index at baseline.
The Female Sexual Function Index (FAFI) questionnaire was used by the researchers in determining the overall sexual satisfaction particularly on the areas of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Blood was drawn from the subject to determine levels of reproductive hormones and were asked to answer questionnaires to find out data on health-related quality of life, body image, satisfaction levels in selected variables.
Researchers found out that there was a significant improvement in overall sexual function especially in the areas of desire and satisfaction after one year from bariatric surgery. With huge increases in the areas of arousal and lubrication, overall sexual function continued to improve significantly by the second year. In addition to these outcomes which are sexually-related, dramatic improvements were also experienced by respondents in overall quality of life, body image, depressive symptoms, and relationship with their partners.
Enjoying weight loss through bariatric surgery has truly become very encouraging to countless women with benefits in many aspects of life such as sexual function and in addressing medical conditions. In a study released recently, it was shown that the use surgical procedures such as vaginal mesh surgeries in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), two common conditions affecting women, may not be required anymore with the reduction of weight through bariatric surgeries.
In view of the controversy surrounding the use of vaginal mesh devices, women may now have an alternative in managing these pelvic floor disorders. Thousands of women may be spared the possibility of suffering severe complications attributed to these mesh implants. Serious injuries have resulted which have prompted these patients to take legal steps such as filing of vaginal mesh lawsuits against mesh manufacturers. In West Virginia, the first two bellwether cases have been resolved favorably for the plaintiffs while the third scheduled case dismissed with the vaginal mesh complainant ordered to pay legal costs.
References:
medscape.com
medicalnewstoday.com
