title: Exploration of Male Attitudes on Partnerships and Sexuality with Female BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers.
abstract: Women with BRCA mutations are inundated with decisions about managing cancer risks and childbearing considerations. Decisions become more complicated when women face disclosing their mutation and risk-reduction options to a romantic partner. This study identifies the concerns and perspectives of male romantic partners regarding these unique decisions. Twenty-five male participants completed an online survey posted to cancer support group message boards. Participants reported relationship changes regarding intimacy levels (n = 9), attraction (n = 2), and communication (n = 22) after mutation disclosure. Participants whose partners had not undergone prophylactic mastectomy (n = 14) reported concerns regarding sexual relations (n = 5), post-surgical appearance (n = 2), post-surgical attraction (n = 5), and health/lifespan (n = 9). Participants did not express attitude changes toward childbearing. While mutation disclosure conversations and surgical options are concerns for many BRCA mutation carriers in relationships, male partners share these concerns. Aspects of the relationship may change, but male study participants continued to support their partners. This information can benefit female BRCA mutation carriers, their current or future partners, and genetic counselors working with this particular population.
authors.affiliation: Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. Caitlin.Mauer@UTSouthwestern.edu.|UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-9323, USA. Caitlin.Mauer@UTSouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dungan
authors.affiliation: Clinical Genetics Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hurley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012650:Self Disclosure; D019529:Sexuality; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human
keywords: Attitudes; BRCA; Cancer; Male partners; Oncology; Risk reducing; Sexuality