Sexual functioning and mood among long-term survivors of clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina or cervix

Although establishing sexual relationships is viewed as an important develo pmental milestone for adults, sexual functioning has been a neglected area of investigation fur survivors of gynecological cancer. This article descri bes the long-term effects of dear-cell adenocarcinoma, with a specific focu s on sexual functioning as a major quality-of-life concern. The authors hyp othesized that respondents with multiple factors that interfered with their sexual functioning would report greater sexual dysfunction, poorer adjustm ent, and relationship difficulties. Two additional Souls were to describe l ate psychological effects, such as depressive symptoms, and to explore the relationship between health status, coping behavior, social support variabl es, and depressive symptoms. The findings provide preliminary support for a complex relationship between medical complications, sexual dysfunction, em otional adjustment, and marital/partner relationships: 38% of the responden ts reported physical and psychosexual factors interfering with their sexual functioning. Although chronic sexual dysfunction is a legitimate concern b y itself, the findings also suggest that sexual difficulties are associated with diverse problems involving mood, quality of life, and adjustment.