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Introduction and hypothesis: We describe differences in sexual activity and function in women with and without pelvic floor disorders (PFDs). Methods: Heterosexual women ≥40 years of age who presented to either urogynecology or general gynecology clinics at 11 clinical sites were recruited. Women were asked if they were sexually active with a male partner. Validated questionnaires and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) examinations assessed urinary incontinence (UI), fecal incontinence (FI), and/or pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Sexual activity and function was measured by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Student's t test was used to assess continuous variables; categorical variables were assessed with Fisher's exact test and logistic regression. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the impact of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) on FSFI total and domain scores. Results: Five hundred and five women met eligibility requirements and gave consent for participation. Women with and without PFDs did not differ in race, body mass index (BMI), comorbid medical conditions, or hormone use. Women with PFDs were slightly older than women without PFDs (55.6 + 10.8 vs. 51.6 + 8.3 years, P <0.001); all analyses were controlled for age. Women with PFDs were as likely to be sexually active as women without PFDs (61.6 vs. 75.5 %, P = 0.09). There was no difference in total FSFI scores between cohorts (23.2 + 8.5 vs. 24.4 + 9.2, P = 0.23) or FSFI domain scores (all P = NS). Conclusion: Rates of sexual activity and function are not different between women with and without PFDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to define the diagnosis of hypertrophic cervical elongation clinically and to perform histochemical and histological evaluations of patients with and without hypertrophic cervical elongation. This prospective study was conducted at Louisiana State University between December 2005 and May 2008. Fourteen women with cervical elongation and 28 women without prolapse were studied. The amounts of elastin, collagen, and smooth muscle did not differ between study and control groups. Estrogen and progesterone receptor content in cervical elongation were elevated compared to the cervix of women without prolapse. Hypertrophic cervical elongation was defined as the difference between point C and point D of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system greater than 8 cm. Estrogen and progesterone receptor levels are greater in women with hypertrophic cervical elongation compared with a normal cervix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis This study seeks to determine if total vaginal length (TVL) or genital hiatus (GH) impact sexual activity and function. Methods Heterosexual women≥40 years were recruited from urogynecology and gynecology offices. TVL and GH were assessed using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification exam. Women completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and were dichotomized into either normal function (FSFI total>26) or sexual dysfunction (FSFI≤26). Results Five hundred five women were enrolled; 333 (67%) reported sexual activity. While sexually active women had longer vaginas than women who were not active (9.1 cm±1.2 versus 8.9 cm±1.3, p=0.04), significance was explained by age differences. GH measurements did not differ (3.2 cm±1.1 versus 3.1 cm±1.1, p=0.58). In sexually active women, TVL was weakly correlated with FSFI total score, but GH was not. TVL and GH did not differ between women with normal FSFI scores and those with sexual dysfunction. Conclusions Vaginal size did not affect sexual activity or function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]