Forty-four women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were interviewed in order to investigate sexual activities, sexual function and satisfaction one month before and one year after either one of two possible surgical interventions. The findings were related to sexual response cycle, size of urinary leakage, duration of incontinence and depression. There was no significant difference in sexual activity before and after surgery. One or two sexual dysfunctions within the desire, excitement, orgasmic and resolution phases were reported by the majority both before and after intervention independently of surgical method. Neither the magnitude of the leakage nor the duration of SUI influenced the sexual experiences significantly while continence after surgery promoted sexual desire. The discrepances between the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions and the relatively high level of sexual satisfaction as well as the non-influencing parameters indicate the complexity of human sexuality.