TITLE:
Impaired of Sexuality in Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients
AUTHORS:
Paula Vendruscolo Tozatti, Janete Vettorazzi, Nathália Lobato, Andrea Pires Souto Damin
KEYWORDS:
Breast Cancer, Sexuality, Quality of Life, Sexual Dysfunction, Premenopausal Period, FSFI-19, QS-F, EORTC QLQ-C30
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.11 No.11,
November
24,
2021
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The treatment modalities for Breast cancer may impair the sexual function of women, especially in the
pre-menopausal period. Treatment in this group of women has a huge impact in
quality of life. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the
prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) after treatment for breast cancer among
women who were premenopausal at the diagnosis of neoplasia. Material and Methods: All women diagnosed with premenopausal breast cancer at one outpatient
clinic from March 2019 to September 2020 were selected. Participants answered
two sexual function questionnaires (the Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI-19]
and Female Sexual Quotient [QS-F]) and a quality of life [QOL] questionnaire
[EORTC QLQ-C30]). Sociodemographic and tumor characteristics were also studied. Results: Fifty-eight pre-menopausal women were included. Sexual dysfunction (SD)
was observed in 43 participants (74.1%)
according to the FSFI-19, while 31 (53.4%) had
SD according to the QS-F. The functional and general health scales of the EORTC
QLQ-C30 were positively related to the FSFI-19 and QS-F scores, while the
symptom scale was negatively related to the FSFI-19 and QS-F scores. There was
no relationship between chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or surgery with the
FSFI-19 and QSF scores. A diagnosis of depression was negatively related to the
total FSFI-19 scores. Conclusion: Pre-menopausal breast cancer women showed high rates of female SD. None
breast cancer treatment modality was related to SD. The only studied variable
associated with SD was depression.