Comparison of Sexual Dysfunction Between Women with Breast Cancer and Healthy Women in Bushehr

The younger mean age of breast cancer incidence in Iranian women and the longer survival of these patients necessitate the evaluation of diverse aspects of their health and quality of life, such as sexual life quality. The first step in addressing this subject is to understand the extent of this problem in these patients, as compared with healthy women. The present study aimed to compare sexual dysfunction between women with breast cancer and normal women.

This descriptive-analytical study was performed in 2019 in Bushehr, Iran. A total of 46 married women with breast cancer who had their last chemotherapy session at least three months earlier were selected through the census method. Moreover, 100 healthy married women were selected for the study through a simple random sampling method. Data collection tools included a demographic information form and the Female Sexual Function Index. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, an independent t test, the chi-square test, and logistic regression.

The findings showed that breast cancer patients were more likely to experience disturbance in libido (OR = 7.145, P = 0.022), sexual arousal (OR = 3.898, P = 0.006), genital moisture during sexual intercourse (OR = 4.88, P = 0.001), orgasm (OR = 2.937, P = 0.018), sexual satisfaction (P = 0.001, OR = 5.287), and overall sexual dysfunction (OR = 11.492, P < 0.001) compared with healthy women. The two groups were not significantly different in pain during sexual intercourse (P = 0.1).

The results revealed that the chance of sexual dysfunction is significantly higher in women with breast cancer than in healthy individuals. In breast cancer cases, planning for treating the side effects of the disease, such as sexual function disorder, should be taken into consideration along with cancer treatment.