Sexual Function and Sexual Relationships of Breast Cancer Survivors in Reproductive Age: A Qualitative Research

In Iran and many countries of the world, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. This qualitative study aimed to explain the effects of physical and psychological changes following breast cancer and its treatments on the sexual function and sexual relationships of survivors.

Participants & Methods:

 A qualitative study based on Woods' sexuality theory was conducted from October 2019 to May 2020. Participants included married female breast cancer survivors (aged 20-49) with stage one to three breast cancer who had undergone primary treatment. Data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured individual interviews with 17 patients and an oncology nurse in a teaching hospital affiliated with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran. Sampling continued until theoretical data saturation happened. Data analysis was done by Maxqda 10 software.

Sexual function in women surviving breast cancer included four categories: sexual desire and arousal, orgasm, sexual pain, and the sexual function of spouses. Sexual relationship included two categories: relations and intimacy with spouses; and satisfaction with relations with spouses.

Breast cancer and its treatments generally affect sexual function and relationships and, as a result, the sexual health of the survivors.