Relationship between Sexual Dysfunction and Treatment Modality in Patients with Gynecologic and Breast Cancers

Sexual dysfunction refers to sexual desire disorders and psychosocial changes، which can impact one’s sexual response cycle and cause stress and interpersonal difficulties. Treatment modality is one of the most important predictive factors for sexual dysfunction and varies depending on the type of malignancy. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sexual dysfunctions and treatment modality in gynecologic and breast cancer patients. This correlational study was conducted on 150 women with gynecologic and breast cancers، referring to Seyedoshohada and Milad hospitals in Isfahan، Iran in 2011. The demographic/disease questionnaire، Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)، and Sexual function-Vaginal changes Questionnaire (SVQ) were completed by the subjects. Student’s t-test and one-way ANOVA were performed، using SPSS version 14. P-value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. As the results indicated، 106 (70. 7%) and 44 (29. 3%) women had breast and gynecologic cancers، respectively. Also، 71 (47. 3%) patients had undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy. According to ANOVA test results، Sexual dysfunction in patients treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy was significantly greater than other groups (P=0. 002). Sexual dysfunction in patients with cancers of the breast and genital tract were treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy was more.