SEXUALITY AMONG GYNECOLOGIC CANCER-PATIENTS - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

To establish the prevalence of sexual activity among gynecologic cance r patients and to estimate the extent of sexual problems, a cross-sect ional study using questionnaires was used. All patients (pts) had gyne cologic cancer treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy and atte nded the gynecologic outpatient department at Rigshospitalet, Copenhag en from December 1, 1989 to January 31, 1990; 146/186 (78%) pts partic ipated. The study describes the 107/146 (74%) pts who had a partner. M edian ages for pts with endometrial, cervical, and ovarian cancers wer e 63, 55, and 52 years, respectively. The median time since diagnosis was 15 months (range, 0-311 months). Little or no desire for sexual re lations was found among 74% of the patients and 42% of their partners, but 54% of the patients were sexually active, 79% of the patients <55 years old, and 37% of the patients >55 years old. Sexual activities w ere not related to diagnosis or stage of disease. Among the sexually a ctive patients 40% experienced dyspareunia. Only 22% of all patients w ith a partner expressed dissatisfaction with their sexual life or lack thereof. Despite considerable decrease in sexual desire and frequent dyspareunia, many gynecologic cancer patients continue to be sexually active. Gynecologic cancer patients of all ages should be supplied wit h information on the possible sexual changes their disease may evoke, but they should also be reassured that many patients regain their sexu al capacity and satisfaction. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.