TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of sexual activity and dysfunction in medically underserved women with gynecologic cancers
AU - Bradford, Andrea
AU - Fellman, Bryan
AU - Urbauer, Diana
AU - Gallegos, Jessica
AU - Meaders, Kristen
AU - Tung, Celestine
AU - Ramondetta, Lois
N1 - Funding Information:
This research is supported in part by the National Institutes of Health through M. D. Anderson's Cancer Center Support Grant CA016672 . The funding source had no involvement in the design, conduct, or analysis of this study.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/10
Y1 - 2015/10
N2 - Background Sexual dysfunction is a common long-term side effect of treatments for gynecologic cancer. Studies of sexual problems in gynecologic cancer survivors overrepresent White non-Hispanic, highly educated, and married women. Less is known about the sexual health needs of women in medically underserved populations. We therefore conducted a study to characterize sexual activity and sexual function in this population. Methods We recruited patients attending two gynecologic oncology clinics in a large public healthcare system that primarily serves uninsured and low-income patients. Participants were invited to complete a one-time survey to assess sexual function, sexual communication, sexual distress, relationship adjustment, depression, anxiety, prior help-seeking and help-seeking preferences, and reasons for sexual inactivity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate models to predict sexual activity status and sexual dysfunction. Results Among 243 participants, the majority (n = 160, 65.8%) were not sexually active in the past 4 weeks, most often due to lack of a partner or lack of desire for sex. Just over one-fourth of sexually active participants were identified as likely cases of sexual dysfunction. Greater endorsement of depressive symptoms predicted both sexual inactivity and sexual dysfunction in multivariate analyses. Prior help-seeking for sexual problems was uncommon; however, a significant minority of participants expressed interest in receiving care for sexual problems. Conclusions Gynecologic cancer survivors in our medically underserved population have high rates of sexual inactivity and sexual dysfunction. Future research should identify feasible strategies to address barriers to sexual healthcare in low-resource settings.
AB - Background Sexual dysfunction is a common long-term side effect of treatments for gynecologic cancer. Studies of sexual problems in gynecologic cancer survivors overrepresent White non-Hispanic, highly educated, and married women. Less is known about the sexual health needs of women in medically underserved populations. We therefore conducted a study to characterize sexual activity and sexual function in this population. Methods We recruited patients attending two gynecologic oncology clinics in a large public healthcare system that primarily serves uninsured and low-income patients. Participants were invited to complete a one-time survey to assess sexual function, sexual communication, sexual distress, relationship adjustment, depression, anxiety, prior help-seeking and help-seeking preferences, and reasons for sexual inactivity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate models to predict sexual activity status and sexual dysfunction. Results Among 243 participants, the majority (n = 160, 65.8%) were not sexually active in the past 4 weeks, most often due to lack of a partner or lack of desire for sex. Just over one-fourth of sexually active participants were identified as likely cases of sexual dysfunction. Greater endorsement of depressive symptoms predicted both sexual inactivity and sexual dysfunction in multivariate analyses. Prior help-seeking for sexual problems was uncommon; however, a significant minority of participants expressed interest in receiving care for sexual problems. Conclusions Gynecologic cancer survivors in our medically underserved population have high rates of sexual inactivity and sexual dysfunction. Future research should identify feasible strategies to address barriers to sexual healthcare in low-resource settings.
KW - Depression
KW - Gynecologic cancer
KW - Sexual activity
KW - Sexual dysfunction
KW - Underserved
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.08.019
DO - 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.08.019
M3 - Article
C2 - 26325527
AN - SCOPUS:84943359641
SN - 0090-8258
VL - 139
SP - 134
EP - 140
JO - Gynecologic oncology
JF - Gynecologic oncology
IS - 1
ER -