Gynecologic Symptoms among Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Patients on Oral Endocrine Therapy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Endocrine therapy (ET) for hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer can contribute to gynecologic symptoms (GS) that impact vaginal health, sexual function, and quality of life (QoL). A cross-sectional study was conducted at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada between July 2017 and June 2018 to examine the occurrence and frequency of GS among HR+ breast cancer patients on ET, patient-provider communication, female sexual dysfunction (FSD), and QoL. A Treatment Experience questionnaire was developed for this study and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire (MENQOL) were also administered. Of 151 patients surveyed, 77 (51.0%) were on tamoxifen and 74 (49.0%) on an aromatase inhibitor. Most patients (84.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 77.3% to 89.5%) experienced at least one GS “all the time” or “often”, or one or more infections, in the past year. Only 44 (31.9%) patients reported that their oncologist had ever previously asked them about experiencing GS. The prevalence of FSD was 61.2% (95% CI 46.2% to 74.8%) among 49 sexually active patients that completed the FSFI. Symptoms captured in the MENQOL’s vasomotor domain were deemed most bothersome. Side effect management and patient-provider communication should be prioritized to optimize GS, vaginal health, and sexual function of ET users.

Keywords

• breast cancer
• endocrine therapy
• sexual dysfunction
• vaginal health