Sexuality after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A mixed methods study

Patient-reported disease-specific concerns relating to sexuality in multiple myeloma

“…Concerns relating to bone disease may be more unique to MM because they are not documented elsewhere in the literature on HSCT patients; however, these concerns were described by participants with MM regardless of whether they were treated with HSCT. [5][6][7] High incidence of bone disease and low levels of platelets and white blood cells are known issues in MM survivors [14] and were reflected in participants' concerns. For example, they reported both experiencing bone pain as a barrier during sexual activity and fears of internal bruising as a factor causing avoidance of or anxiety about engaging in sexual activities.…”

“…[2,4] Information about sexuality in MM survivors has been inferred from research on other types of hematological cancer (eg, lymphoma) or recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). [5,6] HSCT survivors typically experience severe changes in sexual functioning [7] (eg, pain and difficulty with desire, arousal, and orgasm) and fertility, which negatively affect sexual satisfaction, relationship adjustment, and body image and exacerbate sexual distress. [8] Sexual dysfunction prevalence rates among hematological cancer survivors and HSCT recipients have been observed to be high; one study surveying people diagnosed with hematological cancers (eg, lymphoma and acute and chronic leukemia) found rates of sexual dysfunction in 80% of women (n 5 10) and 57.7% (n 5 35) of men in their sample, [9] while a study on HSCT survivors observed low sexual function in 64.4% of women (n 5 804) and 31.5% of men (n 5 912) in their sample, respectively.…”

“…Because HSCT is used to manage a variety of hematological malignancies, reports on sexuality post-HSCT do not describe MM survivors specifically, and potential disease-specific factors have not yet been explored. [6,7] MM is more common among older individuals, men, and Black people [11] which may correlate to systematic differences in sexual concerns or health care. Furthermore, disease-specific factors may also present additional sexual challenges, such as treatment trajectory.…”

“…Because HSCT is used to manage a variety of hematological malignancies, reports on sexuality post-HSCT do not describe MM survivors specifically, and potential disease-specific factors have not yet been explored. [6,7]…”

Male-Specific Late Effects in Adult Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients: A Systematic Review from the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation

“…30 In a qualitative single-center study in Canada, most HCT survivors indicated they had never been asked about sexual health, and those who had voiced their concerns felt that this had been insufficiently acknowledged or addressed. 82 Most survivors are willing to receive information about sexual health following HCT (79.4%), survivors with high levels of sexual health knowledge, were being 1.91 times more sexually active than those survivors with low knowledge. 83 While patients may prioritize survival over sexuality during treatment, these concerns become more important as time passes and survival becomes more of a reality.…”