Change in Sexual Dysfunction Following Bariatric Surgery

Overview

Journal Obes Surg

Date 2015 Oct 22

PMID 26487651

Citations 4

Authors

Laura R Wingfield

Myutan Kulendran

Georgia Laws

Harvinder Chahal

Samantha Scholtz

Sanjay Purkayastha

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Obesity is associated with multiple comorbidities and psychosocial burdens, but often sexual dysfunction (SD) is overlooked. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity, and its role in reversing SD is reviewed. A literature search of MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and Cochrane databases was conducted. Fifty-six articles were identified and 32 selected for inclusion. SD was measured via hormonal studies, questionnaires, and a combination of both (n = 14 males SD studies, n = 13 female SD studies, 5 = both sexes). There is an exponential rise in patients reporting post-surgical improvements in SD in both genders. The emerging use of quality of life indices to measure sexual function as part of a more global enjoyment of life may be a helpful adjunct to existing hormonal and sex-specific measures.

Citing Articles

Changes in Sexual Functioning in Women with Severe Obesity After Bariatric Surgery: Impact of Postoperative Adherence to Mediterranean Diet.

Ruiz-Tovar J, Gonzalez G, Bolanos M, Lopez-Torre E, Fernandez-Contreras M, Munoz J Nutrients. 2025; 17(4).

PMID: 40004934 PMC: 11858524. DOI: 10.3390/nu17040605.

Sexuality and self-concept of morbidly obese women who are sexually attracted to men after bariatric surgery: a phenomenological study.

Granero-Molina J, Jimenez-Lasserrotte M, Arias Hoyos C, Sanchez M, Fernandez-Sola C, Ruiz-Fernandez M BMC Womens Health. 2024; 24(1):174.

PMID: 38481251 PMC: 10936016. DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03014-1.

Social Support for People with Morbid Obesity in a Bariatric Surgery Programme: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Torrente-Sanchez M, Ferrer-Marquez M, Estebanez-Ferrero B, Jimenez-Lasserrotte M, Ruiz-Muelle A, Ventura-Miranda M Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(12).

PMID: 34204427 PMC: 8297395. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126530.

Effect of Body Weight on Sexual Function in Men and Women.

Bates J, Pastuszak A, Khera M Curr Sex Health Rep. 2019; 11(1):52-59.

PMID: 31576197 PMC: 6771291.

Do Male Patients Benefit from Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding More than Female Patients? A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Lewis M, Netz U, Mizrahi S, Avinoah E, Gal D, Perry Z Obes Surg. 2017; 28(3):760-766.

PMID: 28861730 DOI: 10.1007/s11695-017-2916-y.

References

Esposito K, Ciotola M, Giugliano F, Bisogni C, Schisano B, Autorino R . Association of body weight with sexual function in women. Int J Impot Res. 2007; 19(4):353-7. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901548. View

Kolotkin R, Binks M, Crosby R, Ostbye T, Gress R, Adams T . Obesity and sexual quality of life. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006; 14(3):472-9. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2006.62. View

Sarwer D, Spitzer J, Wadden T, Mitchell J, Lancaster K, Courcoulas A . Changes in sexual functioning and sex hormone levels in women following bariatric surgery. JAMA Surg. 2013; 149(1):26-33. DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2013.5022. View

Chikunguwo S, Brethauer S, Nirujogi V, Pitt T, Udomsawaengsup S, Chand B . Influence of obesity and surgical weight loss on thyroid hormone levels. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007; 3(6):631-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2007.07.011. View

Reis L, Zani E, Saad R, Chaim E, Oliveira L, Fregonesi A . Bariatric surgery does not interfere with sperm quality--a preliminary long-term study. Reprod Sci. 2012; 19(10):1057-62. DOI: 10.1177/1933719112440747. View

Yashkov Y, Vinnitsky L, Poroykova M, Vorobyova N . Some hormonal changes before and after vertical banded gastroplasty for severe obesity. Obes Surg. 2000; 10(1):48-53. DOI: 10.1381/09608920060674111. View

Assimakopoulos K, Karaivazoglou K, Panayiotopoulos S, Hyphantis T, Iconomou G, Kalfarentzos F . Bariatric surgery is associated with reduced depressive symptoms and better sexual function in obese female patients: a one-year follow-up study. Obes Surg. 2010; 21(3):362-6. DOI: 10.1007/s11695-010-0303-z. View

Efthymiou V, Hyphantis T, Karaivazoglou K, Gourzis P, Alexandrides T, Kalfarentzos F . The effect of bariatric surgery on patient HRQOL and sexual health during a 1-year postoperative period. Obes Surg. 2014; 25(2):310-8. DOI: 10.1007/s11695-014-1384-x. View

Sarwer D, Spitzer J, Wadden T, Rosen R, Mitchell J, Lancaster K . Sexual functioning and sex hormones in persons with extreme obesity and seeking surgical and nonsurgical weight loss. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2013; 9(6):997-1007. PMC: 3864660. DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2013.07.003. View

10.

Kolotkin R, Norquist J, Crosby R, Suryawanshi S, Teixeira P, Heymsfield S . One-year health-related quality of life outcomes in weight loss trial participants: comparison of three measures. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2009; 7:53. PMC: 2700089. DOI: 10.1186/1477-7525-7-53. View

11.

Burger H, Hailes J, Menelaus M, Nelson J, Hudson B, Balazs N . The management of persistent menopausal symptoms with oestradiol-testosterone implants: clinical, lipid and hormonal results. Maturitas. 1984; 6(4):351-8. DOI: 10.1016/0378-5122(84)90008-2. View

12.

Mora M, Aranda G, de Hollanda A, Flores L, Puig-Domingo M, Vidal J . Weight loss is a major contributor to improved sexual function after bariatric surgery. Surg Endosc. 2013; 27(9):3197-204. DOI: 10.1007/s00464-013-2890-y. View

13.

Wadden T, Butryn M, Sarwer D, Fabricatore A, Crerand C, Lipschutz P . Comparison of psychosocial status in treatment-seeking women with class III vs. class I-II obesity. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2006; 2(2):138-45. DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2006.03.016. View

14.

Duncan L, Lewis C, Jenkins P, PEARSON T . Does hypertension and its pharmacotherapy affect the quality of sexual function in women?. Am J Hypertens. 2000; 13(6 Pt 1):640-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0895-7061(99)00288-5. View

15.

Legro R, Dodson W, Gnatuk C, Estes S, Kunselman A, Meadows J . Effects of gastric bypass surgery on female reproductive function. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012; 97(12):4540-8. PMC: 3513539. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2012-2205. View

16.

Sullivan M, Thompson C, Dashwood M, Khan M, Jeremy J, Morgan R . Nitric oxide and penile erection: is erectile dysfunction another manifestation of vascular disease?. Cardiovasc Res. 2000; 43(3):658-65. DOI: 10.1016/s0008-6363(99)00135-2. View

17.

Hernandez Hernandez J, Lopez-Tomassetti Fernandez E, Caballero Diaz Y, Cabrillana J, Morales Garcia D, Nunez Jorge V . Remission of female sexual dysfunction in morbidly obese female patients with the Scopinaro procedure. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2013; 9(6):987-90. DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2013.02.007. View

18.

Rosen R . Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory for urology. Urology. 1996; 47(5):782-3. DOI: 10.1016/s0090-4295(96)00075-1. View

19.

Rosenblatt A, Faintuch J, Cecconello I . Sexual hormones and erectile function more than 6 years after bariatric surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2012; 9(5):636-40. DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2012.06.010. View

20.

WOODARD G, Ahmed S, Podelski V, Hernandez-Boussard T, Presti Jr J, Morton J . Effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on testosterone and prostate-specific antigen. Br J Surg. 2012; 99(5):693-8. DOI: 10.1002/bjs.8693. View