This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Save to my personal folders Download to citation manager Rights & Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Carmack Taylor, C. L. Articles by Bodurka, D. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Carmack Taylor, C. L. Articles by Bodurka, D. C. Social Bookmarking                            What's this?

Predictors of Sexual Functioning in Ovarian Cancer Patients

From the Departments of Behavioral Science and Gynecologic Oncology, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Address reprint requests to Cindy L. Carmack Taylor, PhD, Department of Behavioral Science, Box 243, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030; e-mail: ccarmack{at}mdanderson.org

PURPOSE: To characterize sexual functioning of ovarian cancer patients and identify factors predicting sexual activity, functioning or satisfaction, discomfort, and habit or frequency.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected on 232 women with epithelial ovarian cancer, 47% of whom were receiving treatment.

RESULTS: Fifty percent of the patients had engaged in sexual activity in the past month. Of those who were sexually active, 47% reported no or little desire, 80% reported problems with vaginal dryness, and 62% reported pain or discomfort during penetration. Of those who were sexually inactive, reasons included no partner (44.1%), lack of interest (38.7%), physical problems making sex difficult (23.4%), and fatigue (10.8%). Partner factors also were identified, including physical problems (16.2%), lack of interest (15.3%), and fatigue (5.4%). A multivariate model was used to predict sexual activity and included demographic, medical, and psychosocial factors as predictors. Women who were married (P < .001), were younger than 56 years (P < .001), were not receiving active treatment (P < .01), had a longer time since original diagnosis (P = .104), and liked the appearance of their bodies (P = .004) were more likely to be sexually active. Univariate analyses indicated that demographic, medical, and psychosocial factors are significantly associated with sexual functioning or satisfaction, sexual discomfort, and sexual frequency or habit.

CONCLUSION: Sexual rehabilitation for ovarian cancer patients should address management of physical and psychologic symptoms and include the patient's partner when appropriate.

Supported by the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Physicians Referral Service institutional grant, the Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and a cancer prevention fellowship supported by a National Cancer Institute grant (R25 CA57730, Robert Chamberlain, PhD, principal investigator).

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Absolom, C. Eiser, L. Turner, W. Ledger, R. Ross, H. Davies, R. Coleman, B. Hancock, J. Snowden, D. Greenfield, et al. Ovarian failure following cancer treatment: current management and quality of life Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2008; 23(11): 2506 - 2512. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Barton, D. B. Wender, J. A. Sloan, R. J. Dalton, E. P. Balcueva, P. J. Atherton, A. M. Bernath Jr, W. L. DeKrey, T. Larson, J. D. Bearden III, et al. Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate Transdermal Testosterone in Female Cancer Survivors With Decreased Libido; North Central Cancer Treatment Group Protocol N02C3 J Natl Cancer Inst, May 2, 2007; 99(9): 672 - 679. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Spunt, T. A. Sweeney, M. M. Hudson, C. A. Billups, M. J. Krasin, and A. L. Hester Late Effects of Pelvic Rhabdomyosarcoma and Its Treatment in Female Survivors J. Clin. Oncol., October 1, 2005; 23(28): 7143 - 7151. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]