Sexual Activity and Function in Patients With Gynecological Malignancies After Completed Treatment

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sexual Activity and Function in Patients With Gynecological Malignancies After Completed Treatment

AU - Grimm, Donata

AU - Hasenburg, Annette

AU - zu Eulenburg, Christine

AU - Steinsiek, Lisa

AU - Mayer, Sebastian

AU - Eltrop, Stephanie

AU - Prieske, Katharina

AU - Trillsch, Fabian

AU - Mahner, Sven

AU - Woelber, Linn

PY - 2015/7

Y1 - 2015/7

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Sexual activity (SA) and sexual function (SF) after completion of treatment are central for quality of life (QoL) in women affected by gynecological cancer (GC). The aim of this study was to analyze the sexual outcome and overall QoL of women after treatment for primary GC compared with a healthy control group (CG).METHODS: In a multicenter cross-sectional study, 77 women aged 28 to 67 years were surveyed at least 12 months after completion of primary therapy for cervical, endometrial, or vulvar cancer [gynecological cancer group (GCG)]. Data were collected through validated questionnaires (Female Sexual Function Index-d, EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30, and Sexual Activity Questionnaire) and compared to a control of 60 healthy women (CG).RESULTS: In the GCG, 41.3% were sexually active compared to 78.0% in the CG. Twelve women of the CG and 42 women of the GCG indicated the reasons for their sexual inactivity. The most common reason for sexual inactivity in the GCG was "the-presence-of-a-physical-problem" [18/42 (42.9%) vs 2/12 (16.7%) in the CG], whereas in the CG, "because-I-do-not-have-a-partner" was most common [6/12 (50.0%) vs 11/42 (26.2%) in the GCG]. Sexually active patients in the GCG had an SF comparable to the CG. In multivariate analysis of the total cohort (n = 137), relationship status [solid partnership vs living alone; odds ratio (OR), 33.82; 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.83-236.70], smoking (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.06-1.03), and age (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79-0.94) influenced SA significantly. The probability of SA thereby decreased with increasing age. Quality of life and subjective general health status were not significantly different between the GCG and the CG (EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 score 68.25 vs 69.67).CONCLUSIONS: A high number of patients with GC remain sexually inactive after treatment, indicating that women experience persistent functional problems. However, women who regain SA after completed treatment have a good overall SF and vice versa.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Sexual activity (SA) and sexual function (SF) after completion of treatment are central for quality of life (QoL) in women affected by gynecological cancer (GC). The aim of this study was to analyze the sexual outcome and overall QoL of women after treatment for primary GC compared with a healthy control group (CG).METHODS: In a multicenter cross-sectional study, 77 women aged 28 to 67 years were surveyed at least 12 months after completion of primary therapy for cervical, endometrial, or vulvar cancer [gynecological cancer group (GCG)]. Data were collected through validated questionnaires (Female Sexual Function Index-d, EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30, and Sexual Activity Questionnaire) and compared to a control of 60 healthy women (CG).RESULTS: In the GCG, 41.3% were sexually active compared to 78.0% in the CG. Twelve women of the CG and 42 women of the GCG indicated the reasons for their sexual inactivity. The most common reason for sexual inactivity in the GCG was "the-presence-of-a-physical-problem" [18/42 (42.9%) vs 2/12 (16.7%) in the CG], whereas in the CG, "because-I-do-not-have-a-partner" was most common [6/12 (50.0%) vs 11/42 (26.2%) in the GCG]. Sexually active patients in the GCG had an SF comparable to the CG. In multivariate analysis of the total cohort (n = 137), relationship status [solid partnership vs living alone; odds ratio (OR), 33.82; 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.83-236.70], smoking (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.06-1.03), and age (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79-0.94) influenced SA significantly. The probability of SA thereby decreased with increasing age. Quality of life and subjective general health status were not significantly different between the GCG and the CG (EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 score 68.25 vs 69.67).CONCLUSIONS: A high number of patients with GC remain sexually inactive after treatment, indicating that women experience persistent functional problems. However, women who regain SA after completed treatment have a good overall SF and vice versa.

U2 - 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000468

DO - 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000468

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 26098093

VL - 25

SP - 1134

EP - 1141

JO - INT J GYNECOL CANCER

JF - INT J GYNECOL CANCER

SN - 1048-891X

IS - 6

ER -