title: Sexuality, Menopausal Symptoms, and Quality of Life in Premenopausal Women in the First Year Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe sexuality, menopausal symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) in premenopausal women in the first year following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) .
  
  
  METHODS
  One-year prospective longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stanford University Medical Center in California. .
  
  
  METHODS
  63 premenopausal female recipients of HCT with a mean age of 34.5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three instruments were used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sexuality, menopausal symptoms, and QOL .
  
  
  RESULTS
  At one year post-HCT, women reported absent to low desire and arousal, adequate lubrication less than half of the time, absent or rare orgasm, pain during vaginal penetration more than half the time, and dissatisfaction with overall sex life. Women also reported moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, and sweating. Twenty-one women were avoiding sexual activity, and 25 women were not sexually active. Mean QOL scores significantly increased (p = 0.028) in the first year, signifying an improvement in QOL. Variables predictive of improved QOL at one year post-HCT include decreased psychosocial and physical symptoms, sexual satisfaction, and pre-HCT QOL score .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One year post-HCT, women reported sexual dysfunction, sexual dissatisfaction, and menopausal symptoms, which negatively affect QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses and other healthcare providers working with recipients of HCT can provide anticipatory guidance on potential changes in sexuality and menopausal symptoms to facilitate adaptation by reducing discordance between expectations and new realities .
authors: Stanford University Medical Center, California.
authors: D Kathryn
authors: DK
authors: Tierney
authors: Stanford University.
authors: Oxana
authors: O
authors: Palesh
authors: Stanford University.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D019529:Sexuality / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: hematopoietic cell transplantation; menopause; quality of life; sexuality