Sexual function and chemotherapy in postmenopausal women with breast cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background This cross-sectional, nested cohort study assessed Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores in postmenopausal women with breast cancer receiving primary chemotherapy. Methods The FSFI questionnaire was administered to 24 postmenopausal women one month after diagnosis of breast cancer (post-diagnosis group) and one month after completion of the first cycle of primary anthracyclin-based chemotherapy (post-chemotherapy group). Scores were compared to those of 24 healthy postmenopausal women seeking routine gynecological care (control group). All patients were sexually active at the time of enrollment. Mean age was 57.29 ± 11.82 years in the breast cancer group and 52.58 ± 7.19 years in the control group. Results Scores in all domains of the FSFI instrument were significantly lower in the post-diagnosis group than in controls (−41.3%, p Conclusion The present study shows that female sexual function as assessed by the FSFI declines significantly at two distinct points in time: upon diagnosis of breast cancer and after administration of systemic chemotherapy.

Keywords

• Sexual function
• Breast cancer
• Chemotherapy
• Sexuality
• FSFI