title: Sexual, psychological, and relational functioning in women after surgical treatment for vulvar malignancy: a literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vulvectomy is an intrusive treatment option for women with vulvar malignancy that theoretically may affect sexual function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the literature on the impact of surgical treatment for vulvar malignancy on sexual functioning, overall quality of life, and partner relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic search of the medical literature on PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane database, Google Scholar and Embase using a number of related terms including vulvar malignancy, vulvar cancer, vulva cancer, vulval cancer, vulvectomy, sexual function, partner relation, quality of life, and psychological functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measures and indicators of sexual function, overall quality of life, and partner relationship following vulvectomy for vulvar malignancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is evidence that women who undergo surgical treatment for vulvar cancer or vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia are at high risk for sexual dysfunctions, dissatisfaction with partner relationship, and psychological difficulties. Factors associated with posttreatment sexual dysfunction include patient's increased age, poor overall well-being, history of depression, anxiety, and excision size of vulvar malignancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical treatment of vulvar cancer has a negative impact on sexual function, quality of life, and satisfaction with partner relationship. However, hitherto only little research effort has been directed to postoperative sexual well-being in vulvar cancer survivors. There is a need for more methodological sound prospective studies that explore sexual function, quality of life, and partner relationship and its predictors over time in vulvar cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Department of Gynaecology, Leuven, Belgium. leen.aerts@uzleuven.be
authors.forename: Leen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aerts
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enzlin
authors.forename: Ignace
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vergote
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Poppe
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amant
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*