BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction is a distressing long-term effect after gynecological cancer and affects the majority of survivors for years after the completion of therapy. Despite its prevalence, treatment-related sexual dysfunction is underrecognized and undertreated for survivors. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop and test a brief psychoeducational intervention for managing sexual dysfunction for women who have undergone treatment for ovarian cancer (OC). METHODS: Forty-six OC survivors with documented, treatment-related sexual dysfunction received a single half-day group intervention that included sexual health education and rehabilitation training, relaxation and cognitive behavioral therapy skills to address sexual symptoms, and a single tailored booster telephone call 4 weeks after the group. Assessment measures were completed at the baseline (baseline 1), after an 8-week no-treatment run-in period (baseline 2), and then again 2 and 6 months after the intervention. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to assess sexual functioning, and the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18) was used to capture psychological distress. RESULTS: Between baseline 1 and baseline 2, there were no significant changes in the study measures, and this indicated no natural improvement during the run-in period. In contrast, the total FSFI scores improved significantly from baseline 1 to the 2-(n 5 45; P <.0005) and 6-month time points (n 5 42; P <.05). The BSI-18 scores were also significantly improved at the 2-(P <.005) and 6-month time points (P <.01) in comparison with baseline 1. CONCLUSIONS: This brief behavioral intervention led to significant improvements in overall sexual functioning and psychological distress that were maintained at the 6-month follow-up. The results demonstrate the feasibility of this brief, low-intensity behavioral intervention and support the development of a larger randomized controlled trial. Cancer 2018;124:176-82. V C 2017 American Cancer Society.KEYWORDS: gynecological cancer and sexual dysfunction, ovarian cancer, quality of life and cancer, sexual health.
INTRODUCTIONFemale cancer survivors often face distressing and severe sexual side effects related to their disease and its treatments. [1][2][3] For gynecological cancer survivors, sexual dysfunction has been identified as one of the core set of quality-of-life domains that is profoundly disrupted after treatment. 4 Common detrimental problems include diminished arousal, vaginal dryness, a loss of sexual desire, and decreased satisfaction. In addition to the physiological impact of gynecological cancer treatment, women suffer from a range of related psychological consequences such as a perceived loss of femininity, negative body image, and psychological distress. 5 With advances in chemotherapy and surgical techniques over the past decade, nearly 50% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer (OC) can expect to live for many years after the diagnosis. 6-9 However, treatment regimens for OC are intensive and often include multiple ...