Sexual dysfunction in Thai women with early-stage cervical cancer after radical hysterectomy

Abstract

We determined the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with early-stage cervical cancer who had undergone radical hysterectomy in three institutions of Thailand. An interview was conducted according to the structured questionnaire composing of seven domains of sexual function: frequency, desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and dyspareunia. From 105 women included in the study, mean age was 45.3 +/- 7.8 years. Seventy-five (71.4%) were in premenopausal period. Eight out of 105 women (7.6%) never resumed their sexual intercourse after radical hysterectomy, 97 women resumed their sexual intercourse during 1-36 months postoperation (median, 4 months). Dyspareunia was increased in approximately 37% of women, while the other six domains of sexual function were decreased, ranging from approximately 40-60%. Of interest, only 10.5% of these cervical cancer women had some information of sexual function from medical or paramedical personnel, 17.1% obtained it from other laymen or public media, and 61.9% had never had it from any resources. Our conclusion is-sexual dysfunction is a common problem after cervical cancer treatment, but it has not been well aware of. These findings may necessitate health care providers to be more considerate on this problem.

Filling in the gaps: Sociodemographic and medical predictors of sexual health and other supportive care needs, and desire for help in gynecological cancer survivors

“…The findings on age as an important predictor of unmet needs in this population lend support to other research noting this association (Tangjitgamol et al, 2007;McCallum et al, 2012). Younger participants appear to be experiencing greater difficulty with unmet emotional, sexual, and social needs, suggesting that interventions surrounding themes such as fertility, relationships/intimacy, gender/family roles, and anxiety are needed for this population (see also Zabrack, 2011).…”

“…The finding that radiation therapy did not predict higher needs was surprising, given the well-documented literature on physical post-radiation vaginal changes (Jensen et al, 2004a;Tangjitgamol et al, 2007). This result may be explained by an over-representation of ovarian cancer patients who likely received chemotherapy and an underrepresentation of groups of patients receiving radiation therapy as a primary treatment in the present sample.…”

“…For this question, three hypotheses were derived: (A) Younger age (Tangjitgamol et al, 2007;Carmack Taylor, Basen-Engquist, Shinn, & Bodurka, 2004;Schover, 1994;Stewart, Wong, & Duff; and shorter time since treatment (Beesley et al, 2008;Donovan et al, 2007) will predict higher supportive care needs across multiple domains; (B) Radiation treatment will predict higher unmet physical needs (Jensen et al, 2004a;Tangjitgamol et al, 2007); (C) Chemotherapy will predict higher unmet needs in the physical, psychological, and emotional domains (Lagana et al, 2005;Lutgendorf et al, 2000;Schover, 2012). No specific hypotheses were set for the relationship between unmet supportive care needs and surgery, marital status, and menopausal status at cancer diagnosis, as these were exploratory variables.…”

Risk Factors for Parametrial Involvement in Early-Stage Cervical Cancer and Identification of Patients Suitable for Less Radical Surgery

“…This procedure includes removal of the uterus, upper vagina, and uterosacral ligaments with ligation of the uterine artery at its origin and resection of the parametrium, and pelvic lymphadenectomy [2]. Radical hysterectomy is associated with significant postoperative morbidity including blood loss, bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and bowel dysfunction [3,4,5]. Much of this morbidity is due to the removal of the parametrial tissue, which contains autonomic nerve fibers that play a critical role in bladder, sexual, and bowel function [5,6].…”

Should Every Woman with Gynecologic Cancer Undergo Routine Screening for Psychological Distress and Sexual Dysfunction?

“…A study involving young patients in Thailand revealed only a minimal effect of radical hysterectomy on sexual function; however, only 46 % of these patients also had undergone surgical menopause [ 98 ]. Frumovitz et al, who evaluated 114 women at least 5 years after completion of treatment, reached a similar conclusion.…”