RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Long-Term Sexual Functioning in Women After Surgical Treatment of Cervical Cancer Stages IA to IB: A Prospective Controlled Study
JF International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer
JO Int J Gynecol Cancer
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 1527
OP 1534
DO 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000236
VO 24
IS 8
A1 Leen Aerts
A1 Paul Enzlin
A1 Johan Verhaeghe
A1 Willy Poppe
A1 Ignace Vergote
A1 Frédéric Amant
YR 2014
UL http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/24/8/1527.abstract
AB Objective Women with cervical cancer (CC) may be faced with changes in sexual functioning resulting from the cancer itself and/or its surgical treatment. The aims of this study were to prospectively investigate sexual adjustment of CC patients during a follow-up period of 2 years after radical hysterectomy without adjuvant treatment and to compare the results with women who underwent a hysterectomy for a benign gynecological condition and with healthy control women.Methods In this prospective controlled study, participants completed the Short Sexual Functioning Scale, Specific Sexual Problems Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory Scale, World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Scale, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale to assess various aspects of sexual and psychosocial functioning at certain time intervals, namely, before surgery and 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgical treatment.Results Thirty-one women with CC, 93 women with a benign gynecological condition, and 93 healthy controls completed the survey. In CC survivors, no differences were found in sexual functioning during prospective analyses and in comparison with women with a benign gynecological condition. However, compared with healthy women, preoperatively and postoperatively, significantly more CC patients reported sexual dysfunctions, including sexual arousal dysfunction, entry dyspareunia, deep dyspareunia, abdominal pain during intercourse, and reduced intensity of the orgasm. Furthermore, compared with healthy controls, CC patients reported worse psychological functioning before surgery and at 6 months after surgery. Finally, before surgery, quality of partner relationship was rated significantly better by CC patients compared with healthy controls; however, quality of the partner relationship declined during the first year of follow-up compared with the situation before surgery.Conclusions In CC patients, no differences were found in sexual functioning when prospectively comparing the situation before and after surgery. However, when compared with healthy controls, CC patients are at high risk for sexual dysfunctions, both before and after surgical treatment.