1. A survey of fertility and sexual health following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in New South Wales, Australia
- Author
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Gemma Dyer, John Moore, M. Greenwood, Masura Kabir, Megan Hogg, Stephen Larsen, Lisa Brice, Jennifer A. Bradford, Mark P. Hertzberg, Jeff Tan, Chris Ward, Ian Kerridge, John Kwan, Gillian Huang, Nicole Gilroy, and Louisa Brown
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,03 medical and health sciences ,Young Adult ,0302 clinical medicine ,Age Distribution ,immune system diseases ,hemic and lymphatic diseases ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Transplantation, Homologous ,Sex organ ,Depression (differential diagnoses) ,Aged ,Libido ,Gynecology ,DASS ,business.industry ,Sperm Banks ,Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ,Hematology ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Transplantation ,Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological ,surgical procedures, operative ,Sexual dysfunction ,Erectile dysfunction ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Infertility ,Quality of Life ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,New South Wales ,Sexual function ,business ,030215 immunology - Abstract
Four hundred and twenty-one adult allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) survivors participated in a cross-sectional study to assess sexual dysfunction and infertility post-transplant. Survey instruments included the Sydney Post-Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Survey, Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment (FACT) - BMT, the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS 21), the Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease (cGVHD) Activity Assessment- Patient Self Report (Form B), the Lee cGVHD Symptom Scale and The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. Most HSCT survivors reported sexual difficulties (51% of males; 66% of females). Men reported erectile dysfunction (79%) and decreased libido (61·6%) and women reported loss of libido (83%), painful intercourse (73%) and less enjoyment of sex (68%). Women also commonly reported vaginal dryness (73%), vaginal narrowing (34%) and vaginal irritation (26%). Woman had much higher rates of genital cGvHD than men (22% vs. 5%). Age and cGVHD were significantly associated with sexual dysfunction. Few survivors had children following transplant (3·3%). However, for those of reproductive age at HSCT, 22% reported trying to conceive, with 10·3% reporting success. This study is the largest to date exploring sexual function in survivors of allo-HSCT. This data provides the basis for health service reform to better meet the needs of HSCT survivors, including evidence to support counselling and education both pre- and post-transplant.
- Published
- 2015