Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common pelvic floor disorder that can adversely affect women's sexual function and quality of life. Although quantitative studies have documented sexual dysfunction in women with POP, little is known about women's lived sexual experiences. This study aimed to explore how women with advanced POP experience and interpret changes in their sexual lives.
METHODS
A hermeneutic-phenomenological qualitative study was conducted at a university hospital urogynecology outpatient clinic. Fifteen women with stage III-IV POP, diagnosed using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system, were recruited through purposive sampling. Individual, face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted between February 2024 and February 2025. Data were analyzed using interpretive thematic analysis with MaxQDA 2024. Reporting followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).
RESULTS
Participants reported profound disruptions in their sexual lives. Three main themes emerged: (1) the impact of POP on sexual activity, (2) factors affecting quality of life, and (3) coping and management strategies before surgery. Sexual difficulties included dyspareunia, fear of coital incontinence, reduced sexual desire, shortened intercourse, and avoidance of sexual activity. Women also described body image concerns, shame, emotional distress, and strain in intimate relationships.
CONCLUSIONS
Advanced POP affects women's sexuality beyond physical symptoms, with significant psychological and relational consequences. Sexual health concerns are often under-recognized in clinical practice. Integrating structured sexual assessment and holistic, patient-centered counseling into POP management may improve sexual and overall quality-of-life outcomes.
TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual Experiences of Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Qualitative Study.
AU - Cakir,Hilal Basak,
AU - Ozcan,Handan,
Y1 - 2026/06/10/
PY - 2026/02/22/received
PY - 2026/05/11/accepted
PY - 2026/6/10/medline
PY - 2026/6/10/pubmed
PY - 2026/6/10/entrez
KW - Pelvic organ prolapse
KW - Qualitative research
KW - Sexual health
KW - Women
JF - International urogynecology journal
JO - Int Urogynecol J
N2 - INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common pelvic floor disorder that can adversely affect women's sexual function and quality of life. Although quantitative studies have documented sexual dysfunction in women with POP, little is known about women's lived sexual experiences. This study aimed to explore how women with advanced POP experience and interpret changes in their sexual lives. METHODS: A hermeneutic-phenomenological qualitative study was conducted at a university hospital urogynecology outpatient clinic. Fifteen women with stage III-IV POP, diagnosed using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system, were recruited through purposive sampling. Individual, face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted between February 2024 and February 2025. Data were analyzed using interpretive thematic analysis with MaxQDA 2024. Reporting followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). RESULTS: Participants reported profound disruptions in their sexual lives. Three main themes emerged: (1) the impact of POP on sexual activity, (2) factors affecting quality of life, and (3) coping and management strategies before surgery. Sexual difficulties included dyspareunia, fear of coital incontinence, reduced sexual desire, shortened intercourse, and avoidance of sexual activity. Women also described body image concerns, shame, emotional distress, and strain in intimate relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced POP affects women's sexuality beyond physical symptoms, with significant psychological and relational consequences. Sexual health concerns are often under-recognized in clinical practice. Integrating structured sexual assessment and holistic, patient-centered counseling into POP management may improve sexual and overall quality-of-life outcomes.
SN - 1433-3023
UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/prime/citation/42268413/Sexual_Experiences_of_Women_with_Pelvic_Organ_Prolapse:_A_Qualitative_Study.
DB - PRIME
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
