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

Background: One of the common complications following radical surgery and chemoradiotherapy of the pelvic organs is radiation-induced vaginal stenosis, which exerts a persistent negative impact on female sexual function and requires addressing the issue of providing assistance to women in this regard.

Aim: The work aimed to evaluate sexual satisfaction in patients with radiation-induced vaginal stenosis using the Female Sexual Function Index before and after individually tailored treatment.

Methods: The study included 25 women: 10 patients with radiation-induced vaginal stenosis treated with hyaluronic acid injections combined with dilator therapy (group 1); 5 patients who required surgical intervention—vaginal reconstruction with a Martius–Symmonds myocutaneous flap (group 2); and 10 women in the control group (group 3).

Results: The main Female Sexual Function Index domains were assessed: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Before treatment, the total scores in group 1 and group 2 were lower compared with the control group, with the severity of sexual dysfunction corresponding to low scores. After treatment, all domains of sexual quality of life improved in group 1, with the highest scores recorded in arousal (5.13 ± 0.29) and satisfaction (4.52 ± 0.41) domains, followed by orgasm (5.00 ± 0.43), desire (4.80 ± 0.45), lubrication (4.80 ± 0.32), and pain (4.20 ± 0.39). After treatment, the satisfaction score in group 2 was the highest, 3.92 ± 0.65, and the orgasm score was 3.84 ± 0.44. The other domains showed the following values: lubrication, 3.48 ± 0.68; desire, 3.48 ± 0.97; arousal, 3.48 ± 1.01; pain, 3.04 ± 1.30.

Conclusion: The findings may serve as an incentive for further research into the treatment of radiation-induced vaginal stenosis and, consequently, improving the sexual quality of life in women.