OBJECTIVE:
compare
quality of life (QoL) and sexual functioning between sexually active
ovarian cancer survivors and healthy
women.
METHODS:
A
cross-sectional study was performed in 103 successfully treated
ovarian cancer survivors and 220 healthy
women. All
women had engaged in
sexual activity within the previous 3 months, and
ovarian cancer survivors were under
surveillance after
primary treatment without evidence of
disease. QoL and sexual functioning were assessed using three
questionnaires; the European
Organization for
Research and
Treatment of
Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30),
Ovarian Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-OV28), and the
Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).
Propensity score matching was used to adjust covariates between the
ovarian cancer survivor and healthy
women groups. In total, 73
ovarian cancer survivors and 73 healthy
women were compared.
RESULTS:
Poorer
social functioning (mean, 82.4 vs. 90.9; p=0.010) and more financial difficulties (mean, 16.4 vs. 7.8; p=0.019) were observed among
ovarian cancer survivors than among healthy
women.
Sexuality, both in terms of desire,
arousal,
lubrication,
orgasm,
satisfaction, and
pain and in terms of interest in
sex,
sexual activity, and
enjoyment of
sex (EORTC QLQ-OV28) were
similar between the groups. However, vaginal
dryness was more problematic in
ovarian cancer survivors, with borderline statistical significance (p=0.081).
CONCLUSION:
Sexuality was not impaired in
ovarian cancer survivors who were without evidence of
disease after
primary treatment and having
sexual activities, compared with healthy
women, whereas
social functioning and financial status did deteriorate. Prospective
cohort studies are needed.