Predictors of Sexual Desire, Arousal, Lubrication, Orgasm, Satisfaction, and Pain in Women with Gynecologic Cancer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify psychosocial factors that might be predictive of sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain in women with gynecologic cancer. METHODS: Two hundred and twelve women with cervical, ovarian, or endometrial cancer completed questionnaires on the Female Sexual Function Index including sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain, and data on their psychosocial factors including body image, sexual attitude, sexual information, depression, and marital intimacy. Stepwise multivariable regression analysis was performed to explore psychosocial predictors of women's sexual function domains. RESULTS: Predictors were identified as sexual attitude, depression, sexual information, and body image for sexual desire; sexual information, depression, and sexual attitude for sexual arousal; sexual information, marital intimacy, and depression for lubrication; sexual information, marital intimacy, depression, and body image for orgasm; marital intimacy, sexual information, sexual attitude, and depression for satisfaction; sexual information, depression, and marital intimacy for pain. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that women's sexual function needs to be approached to domains of female sexual function psychosocially as well as to general sexual function. These factors should be considered in future interventions to positively promote sexual function in women with gynecologic cancer.