Article Text
Abstract
Introduction/Background Cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancers in Indonesia, 74% of all cases of gynecologic cancers. In 2018, the incidence of cervical cancer is 9.3% in Indonesia, 84.6% were diagnosed as advanced stage. The primary treatment in advanced cervical cancer is radiotherapy, especially pelvic radiotherapy. Although pelvic radiotherapy is the modality of choice for treatment in advanced cervical cancer, but it has side effects that can affect woman’s sexual function.
Methodology The subjects of this study were 34 patients who were diagnosed with cervical cancer stage IIB-IVA and underwent pelvic radiotherapy based on local hospital database in Gynecologic Outpatient Clinic in Kandou Hospital from September 1st 2019 to February 29th 2020. All patients were interviewed with Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. This questionnaire measures five groups of questions, which are sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain to assess sexual function in women.
Results From 34 patients who have undergone pelvic radiotherapy, the FSFI scores of 32 patients are below 26.5 and categorized as female sexual dysfunction (FSD), while two patients have score more than 26.6. The mean of FSFI Score is 10.0.
Conclusion Pelvic radiotherapy has negative effect on the vaginal mucosa. This effect has significantly reduced the sexual function in women after pelvic radiotherapy. Assessment of the Sexual Function of every patients who have undergone pelvic radiotherapy is important to improve comprehensive care for female cancer patients.
Disclosures The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial, or otherwise.