Most studies on the treatment of sexual problems in women with breast cancer have been conducted based on a quantitative approach. Adding a post-intervention qualitative study can help to clarify the impact of the therapy on sexual function. The present mixed-method study was performed to determine the impact of mindfulness based stress reduction on sexual function in women with breast cancer. This study consisted of two quantitative and qualitative phases. The quantitative phase was a randomized clinical trial, where 52 subjects were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups that completed female sexual function index (FSFI) in pretest, posttest (after the intervention), and follow-up (1 month after the intervention) stages. Intervention was an eight-session group mindfulness-based stress reduction. After analyzing data from 46 subjects, qualitative data were collected using the conventional content analysis method. At the follow-up stage, statistically significant improvements were noted in the intervention group for the sexual desire (P = 0.021) and arousal (P = 0.021), but decreases were observed in orgasm scores (P = 0.042). In the control group, overall FSFI score decreased at follow-up compared to those of the pretest and posttest (P < 0.001. (There were no differences between the two groups in the three stages. Two main categories of qualitative analysis, i.e. "mindfulness, an attempt for love continuation" and "Sexual Responsiveness scope", confirmed the results of quantitative phase. Based on the results, mindfulness intervention can impact the aspects of sexual performance that rely on women, which are mostly of psychological origin and may not affect all aspects.

Introduction: The younger mean age of breast cancer incidence in Iranian women and the longer survival of these patients necessitate the evaluation of diverse aspects of their health and quality of life, such as sexual life quality. The first step in addressing this subject is to understand the extent of this problem in these patients, as compared with healthy women. The present study aimed to compare sexual dysfunction between women with breast cancer and normal women. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed in 2019 in Bushehr, Iran. A total of 46 married women with breast cancer who had their last chemotherapy session at least three months earlier were selected through the census method. Moreover, 100 healthy married women were selected for the study through a simple random sampling method. Data collection tools included a demographic information form and the Female Sexual Function Index. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, an independent t test, the chi-square test, and logistic regression. Results: The findings showed that breast cancer patients were more likely to experience disturbance in libido (OR = 7.145, P = 0.022), sexual arousal (OR = 3.898, P = 0.006), genital moisture during sexual intercourse (OR = 4.88, P = 0.001), orgasm (OR = 2.937, P = 0.018), sexual satisfaction (P = 0.001, OR = 5.287), and overall sexual dysfunction (OR = 11.492, P < 0.001) compared with healthy women. The two groups were not significantly different in pain during sexual intercourse (P = 0.1). Conclusion: The results revealed that the chance of sexual dysfunction is significantly higher in women with breast cancer than in healthy individuals. In breast cancer cases, planning for treating the side effects of the disease, such as sexual function disorder, should be taken into consideration along with cancer treatment.

Background Breast cancer has been a serious public health dilemma for women worldwide, with not only physical and social impairments but also psychological stress responses such as rumination. Rumination is a constant preoccupation with thoughts. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction training in lowering rumination among women diagnosed with breast cancer. Method This randomized controlled trial with a pretest, posttest, control group, and one-month follow-up design included 46 female breast cancer survivors, recruited from the clinics and hematology wards of Bushehr, Iran. The inclusion criterion was that at least three months should have passed since the last chemotherapy/radiotherapy. The participants were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received eight sessions of mindfulness-based stress reduction training. A demographic information form and a rumination questionnaire were used for data collection, and the participants completed the questionnaire in the pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages. Chi-square, Mann–Whitney U, and repeated-measures ANOVA were used to analyze the data. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results There was no significant difference in the rumination scores of the experimental group at three measurement stages. For the control group, the mean rumination scores on the posttest and follow-up were both significantly higher than on the pre-test (P < 0.001). The control group's mean follow-up rumination score was significantly higher than that of the post-test (P = 0.02). A comparison of the two groups adjusted for the baseline showed a significant difference between them in terms of the mean rumination score on the post-test (P = 0.01) and follow-up (P < 0.001). Conclusion The experimental group was more successful in avoiding increased rumination than the control group, an ability that can be attributed to the effect of mindfulness training. The use of this method is recommended because it is non-invasive, non-pharmacological, free from complications, and can be easily performed by women. However, future studies should consider larger samples and long-term follow-ups.