Bariatric surgery can resolve sexual dysfunction in obese women

WASHINGTON - A new research has revealed that bariatric surgery could prove useful in improving female sexual dysfunction (FSD) apart from helping people lose weight.

As many as 54 sexually active women, with an average body mass index (BMI) of 45, were studied before and after having either laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

It was found that that 63 percent of the women had FSD as measured by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a standardized test used to assess sexual function. However after six months of surgery 68 percent no longer had FSD.

Most of the women reported major improvements in all aspects of sexual function, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and less or no pain during or after intercourse.

“Sexual functioning appears to improve quickly and dramatically after bariatric surgery and it doesn’t seem to matter if a patient undergoes gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding,” said Dale Bond, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

“Clearly significant weight loss plays a role, but further research is needed to determine the extent to which improvements in body image, obesity-related diseases, hormonal mechanisms, and emotional health contribute to better sexual functioning,” Bond added.

This study was presented at the 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). (ANI)