P Harter1, I Schrof1, L M Karl2, R Hils3, V Kullmann3, A Traut4, H Scheller2, A du Bois4. 1. Gynecology & Gynecologic Oncology, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen. 2. Prosthodontics, Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz. 3. Gynecology & Gynecologic Oncology, HSK, Wiesbaden. 4. Gynecology & Gynecologic Oncology, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen ; Gynecology & Gynecologic Oncology, HSK, Wiesbaden.
Abstract
Background: Gynecological cancer (GC) is assumed to have an impact on sexual function and activity, but pertinent evidence is currently limited. Patients and Methods: Sexual function and activity were investigated in patients with gynecological cancer (GC) and in a control group (C), using the "Sexual Activity Questionnaire" (SAQ), the "Female Sexual Function Index" (FSFI), and parts of the EORTC QLQ-C30. Results: 727 women (335 GC and 392 C) were given a questionnaire and 22.8 % of them responded. Response rates were equivalent for both groups (23.6 % [GC] and 22.2 % [C]). 51.5 % (C) and 59.5 % (GC) were not sexually active, mainly owing to lack of a partner (37 %) or lack of interest (21 %) (C group), and lack of interest (40 %, p < 0.05), physical problems (31.9 %, p < 0.05), and physical problems suffered by their partner (21 %, p < 0.05) (GC group). There were significant differences between both groups in the SAQ discomfort score (p < 0.05), but no significant differences in quality of life or other scores for sexuality. Conclusion: The quality of sexuality tends to be impaired in GC patients, but this does not appear to influence quality of life. A shift in priorities caused by the considerable anxiety about surviving the cancer might explain our findings.
Background: Gynecological cancer (GC) is assumed to have an impact on sexual function and activity, but pertinent evidence is currently limited. Patients and Methods: Sexual function and activity were investigated in patients with gynecological cancer (GC) and in a control group (C), using the "Sexual Activity Questionnaire" (SAQ), the "Female Sexual Function Index" (FSFI), and parts of the EORTC QLQ-C30. Results: 727 women (335 GC and 392 C) were given a questionnaire and 22.8 % of them responded. Response rates were equivalent for both groups (23.6 % [GC] and 22.2 % [C]). 51.5 % (C) and 59.5 % (GC) were not sexually active, mainly owing to lack of a partner (37 %) or lack of interest (21 %) (C group), and lack of interest (40 %, p < 0.05), physical problems (31.9 %, p < 0.05), and physical problems suffered by their partner (21 %, p < 0.05) (GC group). There were significant differences between both groups in the SAQ discomfort score (p < 0.05), but no significant differences in quality of life or other scores for sexuality. Conclusion: The quality of sexuality tends to be impaired in GC patients, but this does not appear to influence quality of life. A shift in priorities caused by the considerable anxiety about surviving the cancer might explain our findings.
Entities:
Keywords:
dyspareunia; endometrial cancer; ovarian cancer
Authors: Jeanne Carter; Yukio Sonoda; Raymond E Baser; Leigh Raviv; Dennis S Chi; Richard R Barakat; Alexia Iasonos; Carol L Brown; Nadeem R Abu-Rustum Journal: Gynecol Oncol Date: 2010-11 Impact factor: 5.482
Authors: Philipp Harter; Zelal M Muallem; Christine Buhrmann; Dietmar Lorenz; Christine Kaub; Rita Hils; Stefan Kommoss; Florian Heitz; Alexander Traut; Andreas du Bois Journal: Gynecol Oncol Date: 2011-03-17 Impact factor: 5.482
Authors: Elfriede R Greimel; Vesna Bjelic-Radisic; Jacobus Pfisterer; Felix Hilpert; Fedor Daghofer; Andreas du Bois Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2006-02-01 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Michael Frumovitz; Charlotte C Sun; Leslie R Schover; Mark F Munsell; Anuja Jhingran; J Taylor Wharton; Patricia Eifel; Therese B Bevers; Charles F Levenback; David M Gershenson; Diane C Bodurka Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2005-10-20 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Juliane Farthmann; Annette Hasenburg; Meike Weil; Christina Fotopoulou; Nina Ewald-Riegler; Oya du Bois; Fabian Trillsch; Sven Mahner; Hans-Georg Strauss; Pauline Wimberger; Alexander Reuss; Andreas du Bois Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2014-07-05 Impact factor: 3.603