(514) Sexual Activity and Its Relationship with the Sense of Coherence in Women Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

Abstract Introduction Obesity is a civilization disease that leads to impaired functioning of organs and systems. Bariatric surgery deals with surgical treatment of obesity. Currently, bariatric surgery is recommended for all patients with a BMI of ≥40 kg/m2 and patients with a BMI of ≥35 kg/m2 and comorbidities such as metabolic disorders, circulatory system diseases, respiratory system diseases, severe joint diseases and other disorders, the course of which should be favorably influenced by surgical treatment of obesity. However, little is known about the impact of weight loss after bariatric surgery on women's sexual activity and whether health-promoting factors such as a sense of coherence are associated with the quality of sexual functioning in obese women. Objective The aim of the study was to assess the sexual health of obese women who underwent bariatric surgery. In addition, it was checked whether the the sense of coherence is associated with the quality of sexual functioning of these women. Methods The parameters studied were measured using the SOC-29 life orientation questionnaire and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). A total of 691 respondents took part in the study, of whom 103 women had undergone at least one bariatric surgery. The remaining 588 women had not undergone surgery. The study was made available via online means of communication among women and anonymous paper surveys distributed among bariatric patients associated with the Surgical Treatment of Obesity Association (CHLO). Results The conducted analyses allowed us to observe significant correlations between the indicators of sexual functioning of women after bariatric surgery and their sense of coherence. A comparison was made between the components of FSFI and SOC in five groups of women (based on BMI values): after bariatric surgery, with obesity, overweight, underweight and a group of women with normal body weight. FSFI and its components correlated positively with the overall SOC and all of its components. In addition, FSFI showed a positive correlation with the number of sexual intercourses performed by women per month and with the number of intercourses initiated by them per month. Satisfaction with sexual functioning was significantly and negatively associated with weight, age and BMI. Negative correlations were also observed between age and the desire and arousal parameter. Weight and age also turned out to be slightly positively associated with a lower sensation of pain during sexual intercourse. The overall SOC and its components correlated positively with age and the number of intercourses performed by women per month and the number of intercourses initiated by them. Positive correlations were also noted between the sense of comprehensibility and weight and BMI. Conclusions 1.The studied groups do not differ significantly in terms of sexual functioning 2.The stronger the sense of coherence, the better the quality of sexual functioning and the more frequent sexual contacts 3. A stronger sense of coherence characterizes older women and those who have sexual intercourse more often and initiate it themselves 4. Women after bariatric surgery are characterized by: less pain associated with sexual activity, a higher SOC Disclosure No