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Sexuality in breast cancer survivors: sexual experiences, emotions, and cognitions in a group of women under hormonal therapy

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Abstract

Background

Earlier diagnosis and improved treatments have led to better outcomes in breast cancer, making quality of life a key issue. Sexuality represents a pillar of quality of life, although it is often neglected by both healthcare providers and patients when it comes to cancer. This study aims to explore the differences in sexual functioning, distress, psychopathology, emotions, and cognitions between breast cancer patients under hormonal treatment and controls.

Methods

Seventy-nine women (age range between 24 and 69 years) in hormonal therapy for breast cancer completed a self-reported protocol. A matched control group of 103 women was randomly extracted from an Italian general population database. Eight self-report questionnaires exploring biopsychosocial factors were administered.

Results

The current study showed an impaired sexuality in breast cancer patients compared to controls. Breast cancer women under hormonal treatment were characterized by diminished or absent sexual activity (chi2 = 36.16; p < 0.001), lower level of sexual functioning in all areas except for pain (F(1,180) = 8.1; p < 0.01), higher sexual (F(1,180) = 10.08; p < 0.001) and psychological distress (F(1,180) = 6.23; p < 0.05), higher scores in Difficulties in Identifying Feelings (F(1,180) = 7.31; p < 0.01) and Externally Oriented Thinking (F(1,180) = 6.64; p < 0.05), higher level of negative emotions related to sexuality (F(1,180) = 11.13; p < 0.001), and more rigid cognition towards peculiar aspects of sexuality, such as Failure Disengagement Thoughts (F(1,180) = 22.01; p < 0.001) and Age related Beliefs (F(1,180) = 5.7; p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Health care providers do not usually assess those issues in their routine practice, so that sexuality remains an unmet need with remarkable effects on general health and quality of life.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dynamic, Clinical and Health Psychology (Ex Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    F. M. Nimbi, R. Galizia, C. Simonelli & R. Tambelli

  2. University Hospital Foundation A Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    S. Magno, L. Agostini, A. Di Micco, C. Maggiore & B. M. De Cesaris

  3. Institute of Clinical Sexology, Rome, Italy

    R. Rossi

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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by FMN, SM, LA ADM, CM, and BdC. The first draft of the manuscript was written by FMN and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to F. M. Nimbi.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Nimbi, F.M., Magno, S., Agostini, L. et al. Sexuality in breast cancer survivors: sexual experiences, emotions, and cognitions in a group of women under hormonal therapy. Breast Cancer 29, 419–428 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-021-01320-2

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