IMPACT OF VESICOVAGINAL FISTULA REPAIR ON URINARY AND SEXUAL FUNCTION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Main Article Content
Keywords
Sexual, Urinary function, VVF
Abstract
Objectives:
The study looks at the outcomes of a VVF repair surgery with regard to the patients’ urinary and sexual function in a clinical setting.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in MCH, PIMS Islamabad from January to June 2025. One hundred women who were planned to be operated on for primary VVF repair were selected as participants. Assessment of the quality of urinary function was done before the surgery and after three months by using the Urinary Function Scale (UFS) and the quality of sexual function was measured by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). For data analysis, the overall study employed computer-based paired t-tests and Pearson product-moment correlation tests at the statistical significance of 0.05.
Outcomes: The mean age was 36.8 ± 8.5 years and the mean fistula size was 13.2 ± 4.5 mm. The post-operative score in UFS and FSFI significantly increased from 43.1 ± 12.5 to 86.4 ± 9.8 and 15.3 ± 5.1 to 28.5 ± 5.3, respectively (0.000). On the note of functional improvement, the regression coefficients were installed as being negative, revealing a trend towards a negative relation between the duration of the fistula and functional improvement [r = -0.55, p p= 0.002].
The study looks at the outcomes of a VVF repair surgery with regard to the patients’ urinary and sexual function in a clinical setting.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in MCH, PIMS Islamabad from January to June 2025. One hundred women who were planned to be operated on for primary VVF repair were selected as participants. Assessment of the quality of urinary function was done before the surgery and after three months by using the Urinary Function Scale (UFS) and the quality of sexual function was measured by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). For data analysis, the overall study employed computer-based paired t-tests and Pearson product-moment correlation tests at the statistical significance of 0.05.
Outcomes: The mean age was 36.8 ± 8.5 years and the mean fistula size was 13.2 ± 4.5 mm. The post-operative score in UFS and FSFI significantly increased from 43.1 ± 12.5 to 86.4 ± 9.8 and 15.3 ± 5.1 to 28.5 ± 5.3, respectively (0.000). On the note of functional improvement, the regression coefficients were installed as being negative, revealing a trend towards a negative relation between the duration of the fistula and functional improvement [r = -0.55, p p= 0.002].
Conclusion: VVF repair yields statistically and clinically significant improvements in both urinary continence and sexual function. Early surgical intervention appears to optimize outcomes.
References
1. Johnson T, Wong L, Chen M. Advances in minimally invasive techniques for VVF repair. J Urol. 2020;204(5):940–947.
2. Li X, Gupta R, Singh A. Sexual function outcomes following successful vesicovaginal fistula repair. Urology. 2021;147:150–156.
3. Kumar S, Patel N, Desai M. Quality-of-life assessment after surgical repair of vesicovaginal fistula. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2022;48(2):501–509.
4. Adebayo O, Fernandez M, Roberts C. Robotic-assisted repair of vesicovaginal fistula: A clinical study. Urol Ann. 2021;13(1):35–42.
5. Singh P, Das S, Verma K. Patient-reported outcomes in fistula repair: A systematic review. Int Urogynecol J. 2022;33(4):987–995.
6. Patel A, Kumar R, Singh P. Ethical considerations in pelvic reconstructive surgery. BJOG. 2020;127(5):622–629.
7. Chen Y, Li Z, Wang Q. Informed consent and patient autonomy in urogynecological surgeries. J Med Ethics. 2021;47(2):119–125.
8. Mwangi E, Otieno E, Kimani J. Psychological and sexual health recovery after fistula repair. BJU Int. 2023;131(3):456–463.
9. Wiegel M, Meston C, Rosen R. The female sexual function index (FSFI): Cross-validation and development of clinical cutoff scores. J Sex Marital Ther. 2005;31(1):1–20.
10. Garcia M, Hoffman R, Lee H. Long-term outcomes following vesicovaginal fistula repair in rural settings. Int Urogynecol J. 2022;33(6):1591–1598.
11. Davis R, Thompson L, Hall S. Early versus delayed surgical intervention in vesicovaginal fistula: A retrospective review. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2020;40(4):515–520.
12. Brown J, Smith K, Allen D. Assessment of urinary function post-VVF repair using validated scoring systems. Urol Int. 2021;105(2–3):135–142.
13. Ojo B, Adeyemi O, Afolabi T. Multidimensional evaluation of fistula repair outcomes: A prospective study. Afr J Urol. 2022;28(1):42–49.
14. Kim S, Park H, Lee J. Predictors of successful VVF repair in a tertiary care center. Urology. 2023;132:29–35.
15. Rivera F, Anderson B, Garcia M. Postoperative complications and quality-of-life in VVF repair: A multicenter study. Urol Clin North Am. 2022;49(1):95–104.
16. Grewal M, Pakzad MH, Hamid R, et al. Medium-to long-term functional outcomes of women after vesicovaginal fistula repair. Urol Ann. 2019;11:247–251.
17. Lee D, Zimmern P. Vaginal approach to vesicovaginal fistula. Urol Clin North Am. 2019;46:123–133.
18. Anzaku SA, Lengmang SJ, Mikah S, et al. Sexual activity among Nigerian women following successful obstetric fistula repair. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2017;137:67–71.
19. Hillary CJ, Osman NI, Hilton P, Chapple CR. The aetiology, treatment, and outcome of urogenital fistulae: A systematic review. Eur Urol. 2016;70:478–492.
20. Roy P, Gupta B, Tripathi A, et al. Sexual functioning in females with depression in remission receiving escitalopram. Indian J Med Res. 2019;150(6):606–611.
21. Panaiyadiyan S, Nayyar BU, Nayyar R, et al. Impact of vesicovaginal fistula repair on urinary and sexual function: patient-reported outcomes over long-term follow-up. Int Urogynecol J. 2021.
22. Mishra VV, Nanda S, Vyas B, et al. Prevalence of female sexual dysfunction among Indian fertile females. J Midlife Health. 2016;7(4):154–158
2. Li X, Gupta R, Singh A. Sexual function outcomes following successful vesicovaginal fistula repair. Urology. 2021;147:150–156.
3. Kumar S, Patel N, Desai M. Quality-of-life assessment after surgical repair of vesicovaginal fistula. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2022;48(2):501–509.
4. Adebayo O, Fernandez M, Roberts C. Robotic-assisted repair of vesicovaginal fistula: A clinical study. Urol Ann. 2021;13(1):35–42.
5. Singh P, Das S, Verma K. Patient-reported outcomes in fistula repair: A systematic review. Int Urogynecol J. 2022;33(4):987–995.
6. Patel A, Kumar R, Singh P. Ethical considerations in pelvic reconstructive surgery. BJOG. 2020;127(5):622–629.
7. Chen Y, Li Z, Wang Q. Informed consent and patient autonomy in urogynecological surgeries. J Med Ethics. 2021;47(2):119–125.
8. Mwangi E, Otieno E, Kimani J. Psychological and sexual health recovery after fistula repair. BJU Int. 2023;131(3):456–463.
9. Wiegel M, Meston C, Rosen R. The female sexual function index (FSFI): Cross-validation and development of clinical cutoff scores. J Sex Marital Ther. 2005;31(1):1–20.
10. Garcia M, Hoffman R, Lee H. Long-term outcomes following vesicovaginal fistula repair in rural settings. Int Urogynecol J. 2022;33(6):1591–1598.
11. Davis R, Thompson L, Hall S. Early versus delayed surgical intervention in vesicovaginal fistula: A retrospective review. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2020;40(4):515–520.
12. Brown J, Smith K, Allen D. Assessment of urinary function post-VVF repair using validated scoring systems. Urol Int. 2021;105(2–3):135–142.
13. Ojo B, Adeyemi O, Afolabi T. Multidimensional evaluation of fistula repair outcomes: A prospective study. Afr J Urol. 2022;28(1):42–49.
14. Kim S, Park H, Lee J. Predictors of successful VVF repair in a tertiary care center. Urology. 2023;132:29–35.
15. Rivera F, Anderson B, Garcia M. Postoperative complications and quality-of-life in VVF repair: A multicenter study. Urol Clin North Am. 2022;49(1):95–104.
16. Grewal M, Pakzad MH, Hamid R, et al. Medium-to long-term functional outcomes of women after vesicovaginal fistula repair. Urol Ann. 2019;11:247–251.
17. Lee D, Zimmern P. Vaginal approach to vesicovaginal fistula. Urol Clin North Am. 2019;46:123–133.
18. Anzaku SA, Lengmang SJ, Mikah S, et al. Sexual activity among Nigerian women following successful obstetric fistula repair. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2017;137:67–71.
19. Hillary CJ, Osman NI, Hilton P, Chapple CR. The aetiology, treatment, and outcome of urogenital fistulae: A systematic review. Eur Urol. 2016;70:478–492.
20. Roy P, Gupta B, Tripathi A, et al. Sexual functioning in females with depression in remission receiving escitalopram. Indian J Med Res. 2019;150(6):606–611.
21. Panaiyadiyan S, Nayyar BU, Nayyar R, et al. Impact of vesicovaginal fistula repair on urinary and sexual function: patient-reported outcomes over long-term follow-up. Int Urogynecol J. 2021.
22. Mishra VV, Nanda S, Vyas B, et al. Prevalence of female sexual dysfunction among Indian fertile females. J Midlife Health. 2016;7(4):154–158
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Published
Jan 28, 2026
Article Details
How to Cite
Dr. Nosheela Amjad, Dr. Sidra Rauf, Dr. Sobia Luqman, Dr. Sadia Aftab, Dr. Mussarat Batool, & Dr. Shirza Sharafat. (2026). IMPACT OF VESICOVAGINAL FISTULA REPAIR ON URINARY AND SEXUAL FUNCTION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 33(1), 785-793. https://doi.org/10.53555/2q1f7s65
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Author Biographies
Dr. Nosheela Amjad
Professor Obs and Gynae Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
Dr. Sidra Rauf
Pgr obs gynae Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
Dr. Sobia Luqman
Assistant Professor Obs and Gynae Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
Dr. Sadia Aftab
Assistant Professor Obs and Gynae Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
Dr. Mussarat Batool
Assistant Professor Obs and Gynae Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
Dr. Shirza Sharafat
Medical Officer Obs and Gynae Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
How to Cite
Dr. Nosheela Amjad, Dr. Sidra Rauf, Dr. Sobia Luqman, Dr. Sadia Aftab, Dr. Mussarat Batool, & Dr. Shirza Sharafat. (2026). IMPACT OF VESICOVAGINAL FISTULA REPAIR ON URINARY AND SEXUAL FUNCTION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 33(1), 785-793. https://doi.org/10.53555/2q1f7s65
