Sexual function of women surviving cervical cancer

• Published in: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 293; no. 5; pp. 1053 - 1063
• Main Authors: Corrêa, Camila Soares Lima, Leite, Isabel Cristina Gonçalves, Andrade, Anna Paula Silva, de Souza Sérgio Ferreira, Adriana, Carvalho, Simone Meira, Guerra, Maximiliano Ribeiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-05-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Cervical cancer; Endocrinology; Female; Gynecologic Oncology; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Quality of Life; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survivors - psychology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - psychology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - therapy; Psychological sexual dysfunctions; Cervical cancer; Survivors; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0932-0067; 1432-0711
• DOI: 10.1007/s00404-015-3857-0

Objective
The objective of this study was to evaluate the sexual function of survivors of cervical cancer (CC) in comparison to the control group of women without a history of cancer.
Methods
This was an observational, analytical, case–control study. In the cancer group, women subjected to CC treatment of at least 3 months in the past were included (
n
 = 37). For each survivor, one random selection from a base population control group was made (
n
 = 37) of a woman without a history of cancer and with similar socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The sexual function was evaluated through the female sex function index (FSFI) instrument. Data collection occurred through the application of questions in a face-to-face interview.
Results
In the cancer group, 64.9 % related vaginal stenosis or shortening; 59.5 % were not sexually active and of those which had sexual relations, 80 % showed dysfunction. The total FSFI score varied between 9.60 and 35.10 in the cancer group and 23.90 and 36.00 in the control group. The means of the cancer group were statistically inferior (
P
 < 0.05) to the control group in all the FSFI domains and in the total score. The mean total score was 21.72 in the cancer group, classified as sexual dysfunction when considering a score of 26 as the cutoff point.
Conclusion
CC treatment was found to have a negative impact on the sexual function of women. Further, sexual function should be monitored routinely by interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive care with the objective of an improved quality of life post-cancer.