Objective: to describe the sexual function in women suffering aortoiliac oc
clusive disease (AIOD) and in an age-matched reference group.
Patients and methods: thirty-six women suffering from AIOD were included. T
wenty were investigated before vascular intervention (untreated) and it dif
ferent women after treatment (treated). Eighteen age-matched women served a
s a reference group. The patients answered a questionnaire including sexual
, social and medical questions and a gynaecological examination was perform
ed.
Results: untreated patients with AIOD have a significantly impaired physica
l well-being compared to the other groups (p<0.001). A negative effect of t
he vascular disease and its treatment on sexual life was experienced by 69%
of treated compared to 40% affected among untreated (p=0.05). Vulval sensi
bility was impaired in 44% of treated, 11% of untreated and 22% of referenc
e patients. Defective anal sphincter function was found in 33% of treated,
17% of untreated and 6% in the reference group. Those differences were not
statistically significant.
Conclusions: symptomatic AIOD in women is associated with a significantly i
mpaired physical and sexual well-being. Though limited by size and methodol
ogy, the results indicate the possibility of iatrogenic nerve damage.