TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychologic, Relational, and Sexual Functioning in Women After Surgical Treatment of Vulvar Malignancy A Prospective Controlled Study
AU - Aerts, Leen
AU - Enzlin, Paul
AU - Verhaeghe, Johan
AU - Vergote, Ignace
AU - Amant, Frédéric
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Objective Vulvectomy for vulvar malignancy can affect sexual functioning based on anatomic, physiologic, psychologic, and relational mechanisms. The aims of this study were to prospectively investigate sexual adjustment of women with vulvar malignancy during a follow-up period of 1 year after vulvectomy and to compare the results with healthy control women. Methods In this prospective controlled study, participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory scale, World Health Organization-5 Well-being scale, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Short Sexual Functioning Scale, and Specific Sexual Problems Questionnaire to assess various aspects of psychosocial and sexual functioning just before surgery, 6 months, and 1 year after treatment. Results Twenty-nine women with vulvar malignancy and 29 healthy controls completed the survey. Compared with the presurgery status, no significant differences were found in psychologic, relational, and sexual functioning in women after surgery for vulvar malignancy. Compared with healthy control women, women with vulvar malignancy reported significantly lower psychologic well-being and quality of partner relationship, both before and after treatment. Moreover, significantly more patients with vulvar malignancy reported preoperative and postoperatively sexual dysfunctions than healthy controls, including entry and deep dyspareunia, abdominal pain during intercourse, reduced ability to achieve orgasm, and reduced intensity of orgasm. Conclusions This prospective study yielded no differences in psychosocial and sexual functioning for women with vulvar malignancy before and after vulvectomy. However, when compared with healthy controls, patients with vulvar malignancy are at high risk for sexual dysfunctions, both before and after surgical treatment
AB - Objective Vulvectomy for vulvar malignancy can affect sexual functioning based on anatomic, physiologic, psychologic, and relational mechanisms. The aims of this study were to prospectively investigate sexual adjustment of women with vulvar malignancy during a follow-up period of 1 year after vulvectomy and to compare the results with healthy control women. Methods In this prospective controlled study, participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory scale, World Health Organization-5 Well-being scale, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Short Sexual Functioning Scale, and Specific Sexual Problems Questionnaire to assess various aspects of psychosocial and sexual functioning just before surgery, 6 months, and 1 year after treatment. Results Twenty-nine women with vulvar malignancy and 29 healthy controls completed the survey. Compared with the presurgery status, no significant differences were found in psychologic, relational, and sexual functioning in women after surgery for vulvar malignancy. Compared with healthy control women, women with vulvar malignancy reported significantly lower psychologic well-being and quality of partner relationship, both before and after treatment. Moreover, significantly more patients with vulvar malignancy reported preoperative and postoperatively sexual dysfunctions than healthy controls, including entry and deep dyspareunia, abdominal pain during intercourse, reduced ability to achieve orgasm, and reduced intensity of orgasm. Conclusions This prospective study yielded no differences in psychosocial and sexual functioning for women with vulvar malignancy before and after vulvectomy. However, when compared with healthy controls, patients with vulvar malignancy are at high risk for sexual dysfunctions, both before and after surgical treatment
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1097/IGC.0000000000000035
DO - https://doi.org/10.1097/IGC.0000000000000035
M3 - Article
C2 - 24407574
SN - 1048-891X
VL - 24
SP - 372
EP - 380
JO - International journal of gynecological cancer
JF - International journal of gynecological cancer
IS - 2
ER -