Female Sexual Function After Surgery for Benign Perianal Diseases (PERISEX)

June 18, 2026 updated by: Mesut YAVAS, Gazi University

Prospective Evaluation of Female Sexual Function Following Surgical Treatment of Benign Perianal Diseases: A Single-Center Observational Cohort Study

Benign perianal diseases such as chronic anal fissure, hemorrhoidal disease, and cryptoglandular anal fistula may negatively affect female sexual function through pain, bleeding, discharge, discomfort, and impairment in quality of life. Although improvement in male sexual function after surgery for benign anorectal disorders has been reported, data regarding female sexual function remain limited.

This prospective observational cohort study aims to evaluate changes in Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores following surgical treatment of benign perianal diseases. Female patients undergoing surgery for chronic anal fissure, hemorrhoidal disease, or cryptoglandular anal fistula will be assessed preoperatively and at postoperative 3 and 6 months using the FSFI, Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (CCIS/Wexner), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

The primary objective is to determine whether female sexual function improves following surgical treatment. Secondary objectives include evaluating the relationship between symptom improvement, continence status, pain reduction, and changes in female sexual function.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Female sexual function is a multidimensional concept influenced by physical, psychological, and social factors. Benign perianal diseases are common surgical conditions that may adversely affect sexual function through chronic pain, bleeding, discharge, prolapse, discomfort, embarrassment, and reduced quality of life.

Previous studies have demonstrated impaired sexual function among patients with anorectal disorders. Furthermore, improvement in male sexual function following surgical treatment of benign anorectal diseases has been reported. However, prospective data regarding female sexual function after surgical treatment of benign perianal diseases remain scarce.

This single-center prospective observational cohort study will be conducted at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine. Sexually active women aged 18 to 70 years undergoing surgery for chronic anal fissure, hemorrhoidal disease, or cryptoglandular anal fistula will be enrolled.

Participants will complete the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (CCIS/Wexner), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) questionnaires before surgery and at postoperative 3 and 6 months.

The primary outcome will be the change in total FSFI score from baseline to postoperative 6 months. Secondary outcomes will include changes in FSFI at 3 months, changes in CCIS and VAS scores, and subgroup analyses according to disease type and symptom severity.

The investigators hypothesize that successful surgical treatment of benign perianal diseases will result in significant improvement in female sexual function and that this improvement will correlate with reductions in pain and disease-related symptoms.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

120

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Sexually active women undergoing surgical treatment for benign perianal diseases at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Female patients aged 18-70 years. Sexually active during the previous 4 weeks. Diagnosed with chronic anal fissure, hemorrhoidal disease, or cryptoglandular anal fistula.

Scheduled for surgical treatment according to routine clinical indications. Able to understand and complete study questionnaires. Willing to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis). Pregnancy. Postpartum period within the previous 12 months. Pelvic organ prolapse. Previous treatment for female sexual dysfunction. Current antidepressant medication use. Active psychiatric disorder. Gynecological malignancy. Previous pelvic radiotherapy. Inability or unwillingness to complete study questionnaires. Refusal to provide informed consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Women Undergoing Benign Perianal Surgery
Sexually active female patients aged 18 to 70 years undergoing surgical treatment for benign perianal diseases, including chronic anal fissure, hemorrhoidal disease, and cryptoglandular anal fistula. Participants will be prospectively assessed using FSFI, CCIS/Wexner, and VAS scores at baseline and postoperative follow-up.
Procedure: Surgical Treatment for Benign Perianal Diseases
Standard surgical treatment for chronic anal fissure, hemorrhoidal disease, or cryptoglandular anal fistula according to routine clinical indications. No experimental intervention will be administered.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Total Female Sexual Function Index Score From Baseline to 6 Months
Time Frame: Baseline and postoperative 6 months
Change in total Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score between the preoperative baseline assessment and postoperative 6-month follow-up. The FSFI total score ranges from 2 to 36, with higher scores indicating better female sexual function.
Baseline and postoperative 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Total Female Sexual Function Index Score From Baseline to 3 Months
Time Frame: Baseline and postoperative 3 months
Change in total FSFI score between the preoperative baseline assessment and postoperative 3-month follow-up.
Baseline and postoperative 3 months
Change in Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score From Baseline to 6 Months
Time Frame: Baseline and postoperative 6 months
Change in Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score/Wexner score between baseline and postoperative 6 months. The score ranges from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating more severe fecal incontinence.
Baseline and postoperative 6 months
Change in Visual Analog Scale Pain Score From Baseline to 6 Months
Time Frame: Baseline and postoperative 6 months
Change in anal pain assessed using a 0-10 Visual Analog Scale between baseline and postoperative 6 months. Higher scores indicate more severe pain.
Baseline and postoperative 6 months
Disease-specific Change in Total FSFI Score
Time Frame: Baseline, postoperative 3 months, and postoperative 6 months
Comparison of change in total FSFI score among disease subgroups, including chronic anal fissure, hemorrhoidal disease, and cryptoglandular anal fistula.
Baseline, postoperative 3 months, and postoperative 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Gazi University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Mesut Yavaş, MD, Assistant of Professor, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 18, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 18, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • GU-PERISEX-2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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