1. Sexual dysfunction in young adult survivors of childhood cancer – A population-based study
- Author
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Kristina Fagerkvist, Lena Wettergren, Kirsi Jahnukainen, Lisa Ljungman, Päivi M. Lähteenmäki, Emma Hovén, Claudia Lampic, Ove Axelsson, Children's Hospital, Clinicum, and HUS Children and Adolescents
- Subjects
Male ,Cancer Research ,Pediatrics ,IMPACT ,Psychological Distress ,BODY-IMAGE ,0302 clinical medicine ,Cancer Survivors ,Quality of life ,QUALITY-OF-LIFE ,3123 Gynaecology and paediatrics ,Prevalence ,Medicine ,Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological ,Survivors ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Young adult ,media_common ,Reproductive health ,education.field_of_study ,3. Good health ,Oncology ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Sex life ,Female ,HEALTH ,medicine.symptom ,Childhood cancer ,Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,media_common.quotation_subject ,3122 Cancers ,Population ,Sexual dysfunction ,Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi ,HOSPITAL ANXIETY ,Orgasm ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine ,Body Image ,Humans ,education ,Cancer och onkologi ,business.industry ,DEPRESSION SCALE ,Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological ,Cancer and Oncology ,Follow-up care ,business ,Sexual function - Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and to identify the factors associated with sexual dysfunction in young adult childhood cancer survivors. Methods: All survivors of childhood cancer (aged 19-40 years) in Sweden were invited to this population-based study, and 2546 men and women (59%) participated. Sexual function was examined with the PROMIS Sexual Function and Satisfaction Measure. Logistic regression was used to assess the differences between survivors and a general population sample (n = 819) and to identify the factors associated with sexual dysfunction in survivors. Results: Sexual dysfunction in at least one domain was reported by 57% of female and 35% of male survivors. Among females, dysfunction was most common for Sexual interest (36%), Orgasm -ability (32%) and Vulvar discomfort -labial (19%). Among males, dysfunction was most common for the domains satisfaction with sex life (20%), Sexual interest (14%) and Erectile function ( 9%). Compared with the general population, male survivors more frequently reported sexual dysfunction in >2 domains (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.03-2.71), with an increased likelihood of dysfunction regarding Orgasm -ability (OR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.01-3.28) and Erectile function (OR = 2.30; 95% CI: 1.18-4.49). Female survivors reported more dysfunction regarding Orgasm pleasure (9% versus 5%, OR Z 1.86; 95% CI: 1.11-3.13). A more intensive cancer treatment, emotional distress and body image disturbance were associated with sexual dysfunction in survivors. Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for routine assessment of sexual health in follow-up care of childhood cancer survivors and highlight that those treated with more intensive cancer treatment and who experience concurrent psychological concerns may benefit from targeted screening and interventions. 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Published
- 2021
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