The effect of ovarian cancer screening on sexual activity and functioning: results from the UK collaborative trial of ovarian cancer screening RCT.
BACKGROUND
To examine the impact of multimodal (MMS) and ultrasound (USS) screening on the sexual activity and functioning of 22 966 women in the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS) RCT.


METHODS
Fallowfield's Sexual Activity Questionnaire (FSAQ) was completed prior to randomisation, then annually in a random sample (RS) of women from MMS, USS and control groups. Any women in the study who required repeat screening due to unsatisfactory results formed an Events Sample (ES); they completed questionnaires following an event and annually thereafter.


RESULTS
Over time in the RS (n=1339) there was no difference between the MMS and USS groups in sexual activity compared with controls. In the ES there were significant differences between the USS group (n=10 156) and the MMS group (n=12 810). The USS group had lower pleasure scores (mean difference=-0.14, P=0.046). For both groups women who had ⩾2 repeat screens, showed a decrease in mean pleasure scores compared with their annual scores (mean difference=-0.16, P=0.005). Similarly mean pleasure scores decreased following more intensive screens compared with annual screening (mean difference=-0.09, P=0.046).


CONCLUSIONS
Ovarian cancer screening did not affect sexual activity and functioning unless a woman had abnormal results and underwent repeated or higher level screening.
Sussex Health Outcomes Research & Education in Cancer (SHORE-C), Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RX, UK.
Lesley
L
Fallowfield
Institute for Applied Clinical Sciences, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Keele University, Newcastle ST4 7QB, UK.
Ivonne
I
Solis-Trapala
Department of Women's Cancer, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London W1T 7DN, UK.
Usha
U
Menon
Sussex Health Outcomes Research & Education in Cancer (SHORE-C), Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RX, UK.
Carolyn
C
Langridge
Sussex Health Outcomes Research & Education in Cancer (SHORE-C), Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RX, UK.
Shirley
S
May
Department of Women's Cancer, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London W1T 7DN, UK.|University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Ian
I
Jacobs
Sussex Health Outcomes Research & Education in Cancer (SHORE-C), Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RX, UK.
Valerie
V
Jenkins
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology; D011379:Prognosis; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology