Sexual dysfunction in Spanish women with breast cancer

Abstract

PurposeTo determine whether there are changes in sexuality after breast cancer, to better understand the sexual function of women with breast cancer, and to investigate the potential relationship between sexual dysfunction and socio-demographic and clinical variables.MethodsA cross-sectional study. This study included 514 women with breast cancer between 21- and 66-years-old. The cases were gathered between June 2016 and January 2017. The instruments used were the questionnaire on Women’s Sexual Function and a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic and clinical data.ResultsThe average age (± standard deviation, SD) of participants was 46.34 ± 8.28 years. Their average age at date of diagnosis was 42.26 ± 8.56 years, and the average time suffering from cancer was 4.05 ± 5.23 years. There were significant differences (p = 0.002) in the presence of sexual dysfunction before (32.1%) and after (91.2%) cancer. The primary sexual dysfunctions were due to penetration pain (50.6%), lubrication (50.6%), dysfunctional desire (44.6%), and dysfunctional excitement (44.6%). Two-thirds of participants were satisfied with their sexual relations. The women who presented most sexual dysfunction were those that had a bilateral mastectomy (p = 0.009) and those who received chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal-therapy (p < 0.001).ConclusionSexual function was changed in women with breast cancer. The main problems included penetration pain, desire, lubrication, and dysfunctional excitement. It is important that Health professionals recognize which circumstances influence the sexual function of women with breast cancer and to make interventions that facilitate sexual adjustment.

What Are Young Women Living Conditions after Breast Cancer? Health-Related Quality of Life, Sexual and Fertility Issues, Professional Reinsertion

“…In this study, approximately half of the women had sexual dysfunction. Cobo-Cuenca et al and Abril-Requena et al also found similar results in a population of Spanish women with BC [26,27]. Sexual function is an important component of HRQoL among BC survivors.…”

Sexual Dysfunction Among Women With Breast Cancer in the Northeastern Part of West Malaysia

“…Younger patients reported less sexual dysfunction because they still have functional ovaries. 11 Conversely, Harirchi, Montazeri 6 reported that younger breast cancer patients had FSD after breast cancer treatment. Young patients who underwent adjuvant therapy can develop premature menopause, which is associated with a poorer quality of life, lower sexual functioning, menopausal symptoms, and psychosocial distress related to infertility.…”

“…Worldwide studies have reported that 31.6%–91.2% of breast cancer patients develop female sexual dysfunction (FSD) post-treatment. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 Breast cancer patients face many difficult tasks along the way to restoring their sexual health after undergoing breast cancer treatment, including surgery. 5 …”

A cirurgia de mastectomia e sua influência no âmbito biopsicossocial feminino

“…Martins et al (2020) explica que as alterações mais presentes nesses casos são atrofias vulvovaginais, dispareunia, irritação e secura vaginal, inibição do desejo ou excitação, menopausa prematura, náuseas, vômitos e fadiga. Um estudo transversal espanhol publicado em 2018, tendo como amostra 514 mulheres, estudou a disfunção sexual em decorrência do câncer de mama, trazendo justificativas semelhantes, como dispareunia, falta de lubrificação, desejo e excitação sexual (Cobo-Cuenca et al, 2018).…”