Women who underwent gastric band surgery to lose weight reported significant improvements in urinary function and quality of life after the operation, according to research published in the January issue of the Journal of the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BJUI).

However, men undergoing the procedure did not enjoy the same significant urinary function improvements as the women. They also reported that erectile function was slightly worse after surgery, unlike studies following nonsurgical weight loss where sexual function actually improved.

Researchers surveyed 176 patients 142 women and 34 men who had undergone laparoscopic gastric banding surgery at a single centre in Newcastle, Australia.

Key findings of the study includes the following:

The women in the study reported that weight loss had led to significant improvements in their urinary problems, possibly due to a reduction in intra-abdominal pressure, as soon as three to four months after surgery. And every kilogram lost led to a slight improvement in their quality of life score.

Although women reported an overall improvement in urinary function, urge incontinence worsened. However, the authors say that this condition can be caused by a number of factors and the deterioration may be down to the time elapsed since surgery, not the weight loss.

The men in the study did not show any improvement when it came to urinary function and the authors suggest that raised intra-abdominal pressure may not affect male urinary problems in the same way as females.

Despite the men’s significant weight-loss, the overall scores for erectile and orgasmic function declined over time. Age was not a factor in this reduction. This is at odds with the findings of other studies following nonsurgical weight loss where sexual function actually improved.

More.

[Source: Medical News Today/BJUI]