Sexual dysfunction in patients with gynecologic neoplasms: a retrospective pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Little is known regarding the impact of a sexual health program on the sexual functioning of patients with a history of a gynecologic malignancy.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate as a pilot study the prevalence of common sexual health symptoms and evaluate the effects and compliance with clinical recommendations in gynecologic oncology patients.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort study of 259 female cancer patients who attended a survivorship program at an academic medical center from March 1, 2003 through December 31, 2004. Patients received symptomatic treatment recommendations including hormone therapy alternatives, psychosexual counseling, minimally absorbed vaginal estrogen suppositories, and vaginal dilators.


METHODS
Patient self-report of the severity of sexual symptomology at follow-up visit.


RESULTS
Ninety-six patients (37%) had gynecologic neoplasms and the most common gynecologic malignancy seen was ovarian (27%). Median age at initial visit was 51 years (range 25-76) and 88 patients (92%) were postmenopausal. The most frequent presenting complaint encountered was dyspareunia (72%), atrophic vaginitis (65%), hypoactive desire (43%), and orgasmic dysfunction (17%). At a median of 6 months (range 0-20), 60 patients (63%) received follow-up, and of them 42 (70%) self-reported improvement in their symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The establishment of a well-structured sexual health program in a cancer setting can result in a 63% compliance rate with a 70% subjective improvement in sexual health complaints. Further research with objective measures of sexual dysfunction is needed to better evaluate patients' progress in this setting.
Amsterdam
Alison
A
Department of Surgery, Division of Gynecology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: ada2@cornell.edu.
Krychman
Michael L
ML
Department of Surgery, Division of Gynecology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health