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Sexual health needs and educational intervention preferences for women with cancer

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Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess sexual/vaginal health issues and educational intervention preferences in women with a history of breast or gynecologic cancer.

Methods

Patients/survivors completed a cross-sectional survey at their outpatient visits. Main outcome measures were sexual dysfunction prevalence, type of sexual/vaginal issues, awareness of treatments, and preferred intervention modalities. Descriptive frequencies were performed, and results were dichotomized by age, treatment status, and disease site.

Results

Of 218 eligible participants, 109 (50%) had a history of gynecologic and 109 (50%) a history of breast cancer. Median age was 49 years (range 21–75); 61% were married/cohabitating. Seventy percent (n = 153) were somewhat-to-very concerned about sexual function/vaginal health, 55% (n = 120) reported vaginal dryness, 39% (n = 84) vaginal pain, and 51% (n = 112) libido loss. Many had heard of vaginal lubricants, moisturizers, and pelvic floor exercises (97, 72, and 57%, respectively). Seventy-four percent (n = 161) had used lubricants, 28% moisturizers (n = 61), and 28% pelvic floor exercises (n = 60). Seventy percent (n = 152) preferred the topic to be raised by the medical team; 48% (n = 105) raised the topic themselves. Most preferred written educational material followed by expert discussion (66%, n = 144/218). Compared to women ≥50 years old (41%, n = 43/105), younger women (54%, n = 61/113) preferred to discuss their concerns face-to-face (p = 0.054). Older women were less interested in online interventions (52%, p < 0.001), despite 94% having computer access.

Conclusion

Female cancer patients/survivors have unmet sexual/vaginal health needs. Preferences for receiving sexual health information vary by age. Improved physician–patient communication, awareness, and educational resources using proven sexual health promotion strategies can help women cope with treatment side effects.

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Funding

This research was funded in part through the NIH/NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA008748.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynecology Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Cara Stabile, Deborah J. Goldfrank, Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum, Richard R. Barakat & Jeanne Carter

  2. Breast Cancer Medicine Service, Department of Medicine – Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Shari Goldfarb & Maura N. Dickler

  3. Health Outcomes Research Group, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Shari Goldfarb

  4. Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA

    Shari Goldfarb & Maura N. Dickler

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Raymond E. Baser

  6. Department of OB/GYN, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA

    Deborah J. Goldfrank, Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum & Richard R. Barakat

  7. Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Jeanne Carter

  8. Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA

    Jeanne Carter

  9. Female Sexual Medicine and Women’s Health, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Jeanne Carter

Authors
  1. Cara Stabile
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  2. Shari Goldfarb
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  3. Raymond E. Baser
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  4. Deborah J. Goldfrank
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  5. Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum
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  6. Richard R. Barakat
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  7. Maura N. Dickler
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  8. Jeanne Carter
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeanne Carter.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

SG has consulted for Sermonix Pharmaceuticals and received research funding from Health Tell and Berg Pharma. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical standards

The research in this study was conducted in compliance with current laws of the United States.

Informed consent

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

Additional information

Cara Stabile and Shari Goldfarb are the Co-First Authors.

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Stabile, C., Goldfarb, S., Baser, R.E. et al. Sexual health needs and educational intervention preferences for women with cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 165, 77–84 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-017-4305-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-017-4305-6

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