title: Sexual and Marital Dysfunction in Women With Gynecologic Cancer.
abstract: Sexual dysfunction can be a long-term issue for women with gynecologic cancer. This study assesses the extent of sexual and marital dysfunction women face following treatment of a gynecologic cancer.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study of women with gynecologic cancer was conducted using a 181-item survey. Sexual dysfunction was measured by change in the Female Sexual Function Index score; marital dysfunction was measured by change in Intimate Bond Measure from prediagnosis to posttreatment. Paired t tests and Fisher exact test were used to compare women with dysfunction to those without dysfunction.
  
  
  
  Three hundred twenty women were enrolled (mean age, 56.0 [SD, 12.0] years). Among all women, sexual function declined from a score of 21.3 (SD, 10.4) prior to 15.3 (SD, 10.2) (P < 0.001), and sexual activity decreased from 6.1 (SD, 6.8) to 2.6 (SD, 4.9) times per month following treatment (P < 0.001). Among the 208 women who were sexually active at the time of study, sexual dysfunction after treatment was associated with younger age (50.9 [SD, 11.7] years to 57.3 [SD, 12.3] years), ovarian (40.7% vs 30.7%) or cervical (21.0% vs 10.2%) cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy treatment (72.8% vs 50.4%), and being in a relationship (97.3% vs 82.7%). Among women in relationships, 27% experienced marital dysfunction.
  
  
  
  Women who are younger, have an ovarian or cervical cancer diagnosis, receive chemotherapy, or are in a committed relationship are at particularly high risk of sexual dysfunction. These women should be provided information about the risks associated with their cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO; †Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University Cancer Center, Loma Linda, CA; ‡Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; and §Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO.
authors.forename: Saketh R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Guntupalli
authors.forename: Jeanelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheeder
authors.forename: Yevgeniya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ioffe
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tergas
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Kian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Behbakht
authors.forename: Dina M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Flink
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*