Sexual health issues in Sudanese women before and during hormonal treatment for breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Recent Sudanese studies have focused on depression and anxiety in women treated for breast cancer (BrCa). Less is known about whether such women suffer from sexual disturbances due to different cancer treatments. This study compares BrCa patients with a healthy control group and assessed the impact of cancer treatment types.


METHODS
The BrCa group included women treated for BrCa with mastectomies, chemotherapy and radiotherapy (N=100). Some received hormonal therapy (N=60) and others had not yet received it (N=40). The control group comprised women who had never had BrCa, non-BrCa (N=100). Outcomes were assessed using the Watts Sexual Function Questionnaire.


RESULTS
It was found that many women treated for BrCa suffered from sexual disturbances before hormonal treatment while some regained sexual activity during hormonal treatment. Demographic data show negative correlation (P=0.03) between sexual function and age of the patients, positive correlation (P=0.002) between sexual function and educational level and positive correlation (P=0.031) as well between sexual function and the patient's length of marriage.


CONCLUSIONS
This study helps to fill the gap in the literature about Sudanese women's sexuality, as many studies indicate the effect of some psychological disturbance (depression and anxiety) and ignoring the effect of sexual function in enhancing patient's quality of life.
Abasher
Sanaa M
SM
School of Psychology, Ahfad University for Women, Sudan. sanaabasher@hotmail.com
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003906:Developing Countries; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013397:Sudan; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal