title: Sexuality in Irish women with gynecologic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate sexual self-concept, sexual relationships, and sexual functioning, and the relationship between these and certain demographic variables of Irish women, following a diagnosis of gynecologic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, correlational.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient gynecologic oncology clinic in a large university hospital in Southern Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  106 women with a diagnosis of and treatment for various gynecologic cancers (cervical, ovarian, endometrial, and vulvar).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Body Image Scale, Sexual Esteem Scale, and Sexual Self-Schema Scale were administered to women a minimum of six weeks postdiagnosis of any form of gynecologic cancer to measure sexual self-concept; the Intimate Relationships Scale to measure sexual relationships; and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale to measure sexual functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sexual self-concept, body image, sexual esteem, sexual self-schema, sexual relationships, and sexual functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants reported negative changes in relation to their sexual self-concept, sexual relationships, and sexual functioning. Participants reported negative changes in relation to all stages of the sexual response cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gynecologic cancer has the potential to negatively affect a woman's sexual self-concept, sexual relationships, and sexual functioning. Sexuality is a multidimensional construct and must be measured in this way.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare professionals must use a holistic approach when providing information and support to patients with gynecologic cancer. Information must be provided to women on how cancer and its treatment has the potential to affect their sexual self-concept, sexual relationships, and sexual functioning, including information on how to overcome these alterations.
authors.affiliation: Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland. v.cleary@ucc.ie
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hegarty
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D019529:Sexuality; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult