How a diagnosis of gynaecological cancer affects women’s sexuality

Problematic Areas Related to Sexual Life of Individuals with Gynecological Cancer: A qualitative Study in Turkey

“…In the studies of Juroskova et al 32 Janda et al 36 and Ponto and Bordon 37 it was determined that women feel to receive professional information about the effect of gynecological cancer treatment on sexual health. In addition, in the studies of Ekwall et al 38 , Sekse et al 39 and Cleary et al 24 it was identified that ma-International Journal of Hematology and Oncology jority of women felt to receive sexual counseling however majority of them did not receive this counseling service. Studies conducted on the matter reveal that although health professionals accept sexual health and sexual function evaluation as a vital part of women care, they are inadequate in fulfilling these roles.…”

“…In a qualitative study conducted on women with gynecological cancer by Stead et al 23 women expressed that they experience apprehension about not to look attractive to their spouses as they were before the illness following medical and surgical treatments, and they would become less attractive as a sexual partner and their sexual life would suffer. In the study of Cleary et al 24 women who were diagnosed with gynecological cancer indicated that cancer and its treatment affected their body image and self-respect negatively. Results of our study indicate that women generally complain about the symptoms such as fatigue and fear of death due to the negative prognosis of the disease as the age advanced while the young women have generally concern for their body images.…”

“…31 Therefore, cancer treatment process and in its aftermath, women decrease their sexual intercourse frequency with their spouses/partners or may end their sexual lives completely. 23,32,33 In the qualitative study conducted by Clearly et al 24 one of the participants expressed what she feels about sexuality as "For a long time after the surgery, it was like the section of my brain about sexuality lost its function. I did not have any need for sexuality in my life at all and I did not want it in my life at all".…”