Sexual dysfunction in patients with gynecologic neoplasms: A retrospective pilot study Journal Article
| Authors: | Amsterdam, A.; Krychman, M. L. |
| Article Title: | Sexual dysfunction in patients with gynecologic neoplasms: A retrospective pilot study |
| Abstract: | Introduction. Little is known regarding the impact of a sexual health program on the sexual functioning of patients with a history of a gynecologic malignancy. Aim. To evaluate as a pilot study the prevalence of common sexual health symptoms and evaluate the effects and compliance with clinical recommendations in gynecologic oncology patients. Methods. A retrospective cohort study of 259 female cancer patients who attended a survivorship program at an academic medical center from March 1, 2003 through December 31, 2004. Patients received symptomatic treatment recommendations including hormone therapy alternatives, psychosexual counseling, minimally absorbed vaginal estrogen suppositories, and vaginal dilators. Main outcome measures. Patient self-report of the severity of sexual symptomology at follow-up visit. Results. Ninety-six patients (37%) had gynecologic neoplasms and the most common gynecologic malignancy seen was ovarian (27%). Median age at initial visit was 51 years (range 25-76) and 88 patients (92%) were postmenopausal. The most frequent presenting complaint encountered was dyspareunia (72%), atrophic vaginitis (65%), hypoactive desire (43%), and orgasmic dysfunction (17%). At a median of 6 months (range 0-20), 60 patients (63%) received follow-up, and of them 42 (70%) self-reported improvement in their symptoms. Conclusions. The establishment of a well-structured sexual health program in a cancer setting can result in a 63% compliance rate with a 70% subjective improvement in sexual health complaints. Further research with objective measures of sexual dysfunction is needed to better evaluate patients' progress in this setting. © 2005 International Society for Sexual Medicine. |
| Keywords: | adult; cancer chemotherapy; cancer survival; treatment outcome; treatment response; aged; middle aged; retrospective studies; major clinical study; clinical feature; united states; cancer radiotherapy; follow up; antineoplastic agent; disease association; quality of life; ovary cancer; vagina; prevalence; female sexual dysfunction; estrogen; dyspareunia; sexual arousal disorder; cohort analysis; retrospective study; self report; questionnaires; genital neoplasms, female; health program; disease severity; pilot study; pilot projects; comorbidity; patient compliance; hormonal therapy; health knowledge, attitudes, practice; hormone; postmenopause; gynecologic cancer; sexual function; needs assessment; patient counseling; pelvis surgery; women's health; sexual dysfunctions, psychological; sexual dysfunction, physiological; orgasm disorder; sexual health; vaginitis; sex education; gynecologic cancer treatments and sexual dysfunction; hypoactive sexual desire disorder; suppository |
| Journal Title: | Journal of Sexual Medicine |
| Volume: | 3 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| ISSN: | 1743-6095 |
| Publisher: | Elsevier Inc. |
| Date Published: | 2006-07-01 |
| Start Page: | 646 |
| End Page: | 649 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2006.00204.x |
| PUBMED: | 16776780 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 17" - "Export Date: 4 June 2012" - "Source: Scopus" |
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