A comparative study of sexual function in women with radiation-induced vaginal stenosis before and after treatment.

Background. One of the frequently encountered complications after radical surgery and chemoradiation therapy on pelvic organs is radiation-induced vaginal stenosis, which has a persistent negative impact on female sexual function. Aim. To assess the sexual satisfaction of patients with radiation-induced vaginal stenosis using a questionnaire - the index of female sexual function, initially and after an individually selected treatment method. Materials and methods. The study involved 25 women, 10 of them with radiation-induced vaginal stenosis, whose treatment was based on the use of hyaluronic acid with simultaneous dilating therapy (Group 1), 5 patients needed surgery, reconstruction of the vagina using the Martius skin-muscle-fat flap -Symmonds (group 2); 10 women - control group (group 3). Results. The main components of the female sexual function index questionnaire were assessed; these are attraction, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain. Before treatment in groups 1 and 2, the total score was lower compared to the control group, while the severity of the degree of sexual dysfunction corresponded to low scores on the scale. After treatment, all indicators of the quality of sexual life of the first group of patients increased and broke up in such a way that in the domains of excitement (5.13 ± 0.29) and satisfaction with sexual life (4.52 ± 0.41), women exhibited the highest values, then orgasm (5±0.43) and attraction (4.8±0.45), lubrication (4.8±0.32) and pain (4.2±0.39). The criterion of satisfaction with sexual life after treatment in the second group had the highest result (3.92±0.65), also the indicator of achieving orgasm was (3.84±0.44), other domains had the following indicators - lubrication (3.48± 0.68), craving (3.48±0.97), arousal (3.48±1.01) and pain (3.04±1.3). Conclusion. The obtained results of the study can serve as a stimulus for further searches for treatment of patients with radiation-induced vaginal stenosis and, as a result, improve the quality of sexual life.