Sexuality and cancer in adolescents and young adults - a comparison between reproductive cancer patients and patients with non-reproductive cancer

Abstract

Background Sexuality is an important aspect of quality of life for adolescent and young adults that remains understudied in cancer patients. Most current knowledge about how cancer and cancer treatments can affect patients’ sexuality pertains to reproductive cancer patients (breast, gynecological, male reproductive organs), whereas only little is known about how the disease affects the sex lives of patients with other types of cancer. This study examined sexual satisfaction and sexual supportive care needs among adolescent and young adult cancer patients, with a particular focus on how the type of cancer a person has is associated with these issues differently. Methods Five hundred seventy-seven ( n = 424 females, 73.5%) patients between 18 and 39 years of age at diagnosis and representing all major tumor entities completed the standardized questionnaire. The analysis addressed the following topics: sexual satisfaction (Life Satisfaction Questionnaire), sexual supportive care needs (Supportive Care Needs Survey), and changes in sexuality (Questions on Life Satisfaction Modules). These topics were tested by mean differences between reproductive and non-reproductive cancer, equivalence testing and regression analyses. Results About one third of the patients reported being dissatisfied with their sexuality and having supportive care needs in this area. Changes in sexuality were significantly more common in women with reproductive cancers than in those who had other types of cancer ( t = − 2.693, p = .007), while both groups had equivalence in scores for sexual satisfaction and sexual supportive care needs. Reproductive cancers are not more associated with deterioration of sexual satisfaction ( R 2 = .002, p = .243), changes in sexuality ( R 2 = .006, p = .070) or increased sexual supportive care needs than non-reproductive cancers ( R 2 = .004, p = .131). Conclusions The results indicate that about a third of adolescents and young adults with both reproductive but also with non-reproductive cancer experience sexual dissatisfaction in similar measure. An equal percentage of these patients also express a desire to receive supportive care in this area. Consequently, health care professionals should address issues of sexuality and cancer as a matter of routine when caring for young adults even when patients have a non-reproductive cancer. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-019-6009-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Fertility preservation in women affected by gynaecological cancer: the importance of an integrated gynaecological and psychological approach

“…According to their results, sexuality is significantly worse in women with tumours affecting the reproductive sphere. More specifically, the Authors reported a significant deterioration of sexual satisfaction, changes in sexuality and increased sexual supportive care needs [39]. Similar data were highlighted in the study by Geue et al [40], which investigated couple relationships and sexuality in adolescents and young adults with cancer.…”

“…Several studies have investigated the impact of reproductive cancers on sexual satisfaction and needs of women of reproductive age. Mütsch et al [39] investigated sexual function and the needs related to the sexual sphere of adolescents and young women affected by both reproductive and other types of cancer. According to their results, sexuality is significantly worse in women with tumours affecting the reproductive sphere.…”

The decline in sexual function, psychological disorders (anxiety and depression) and life satisfaction in older men: A cross‐sectional study in a hospital‐based population

“…Sexual desire and sexual behaviours/activities, two of the main components of sexuality, have been widely studied and proven to be associated with other diseases such as cardio‐cerebrovascular diseases, psychological and psychiatric diseases, chronic metabolic diseases and several kinds of malignant tumours, as well as with the male death rate generally (Brody & Preut, 2003; Costa & Brody, 2012; Ebrahim et al, 2002; Fischer, Marguerie, & Brotto, 2019; Holloway & Wylie, 2015; Lee, Nazroo, O’Connor, Blake, & Pendleton, 2016; Mütsch et al, 2019; Palmore, 1982; Rider et al, 2016; Smith, Frankel, & Yarnell, 1997; White et al, 2012; Yang, Lu, Song, Chen, & Liu, 2019; Yang, Song, et al, 2019).…”

Sexual dysfunction and fertility-related distress in young adults with cancer over 5 years following diagnosis: study protocol of the Fex-Can Cohort study

“…Previous research has reported that over 40% of young adults with cancer experience sexual problems within the first 2 years following diagnosis [ 4 , 5 ]. Problems commonly reported by women include reduced sexual desire, vaginal dryness and/or dyspareunia, difficulties in sexual arousal and/or orgasm, and low satisfaction with sex life [ 6 – 8 ]. In men diagnosed with cancer erectile dysfunction, orgasmic difficulties, reduced sexual interest, and low satisfaction with sex life have been reported [ 9 – 12 ].…”