Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35226237›Full record

ArticleBreast cancer research and treatment2022

Sexual activity and functioning in long-term breast cancer survivors; exploring associated factors in a nationwide survey.

Solveig K Smedsland, Kathrine F Vandraas, Synne K Bøhn, Alv A Dahl, Cecilie E Kiserud, Mette Brekke, Ragnhild S Falk, Kristin V Reinertsen

Open access · hybridAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
21citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.8field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

21 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 38 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. The effects of staged sexual health education on sexual and mental health in breast cancer patients: a randomized controlled study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
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  4. Sexual health counseling improves the sexual satisfaction of breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
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  18. Association of sexual attitudes with sexual dysfunction and sexual distress among Chinese breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Solveig K SmedslandNational Advisory Unit of Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. solvs@ous-hf.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8971-8785
Kathrine F VandraasNational Advisory Unit of Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Synne K BøhnNational Advisory Unit of Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Alv A DahlNational Advisory Unit of Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Cecilie E KiserudNational Advisory Unit of Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Mette BrekkeGeneral Practice Research Unit, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Ragnhild S FalkResearch Support Services, Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Kristin V ReinertsenNational Advisory Unit of Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Oslo University Hospital · NOUniversity of Oslo · NO

Funding

Kreftforeningen 207558
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeSexual health is a key quality of life issue. Knowledge concerning sexual health in long-term breast cancer survivors (BCSs) is limited. Within a nationwide sample, we aimed to assess the prevalence of sexual inactivity and to explore factors associated with sexual inactivity and reduced sexual functioning among long-term BCSs.

methodsLong-term BCSs aged 20-65 years when diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2011-2012 were identified by the Cancer Registry of Norway in 2019 (n = 2803) and invited to participate in a nationwide survey. Sexual health was measured using the multidimensional Sexual Activity Questionnaire. Factors associated with sexual inactivity and reduced sexual functioning were explored using multivariable logistic- and linear regression analyses with adjustments for relevant sociodemographic, health-, and cancer-related variables.

resultsThe final sample consisted of 1307 BCSs with a mean age of 52 years at diagnosis. Fifty-two percent of the BCSs were sexually inactive. Lack of interest was the most common reason for sexual inactivity. Treatment with aromatase inhibitor (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.23, 2.43) and poor body image (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.99, 0.995) were associated with sexual inactivity. Among sexually active BCSs, depression (B - 1.04, 95% CI - 2.10, - 0.02) and physical inactivity (B - 0.61, 95% CI - 1.21, - 0.02) were inversely related to sexual pleasure. Treatment with aromatase inhibitor (B 0.61, 95% CI 0.20, 1.01), sleep problems (B 0.37, 95% CI 0.04, 0.70), breast symptoms (B 0.01, 95% CI 0.003, 0.02), and chronic fatigue (B 0.43, 95% CI 0.05, 0.81) were associated with sexual discomfort. Chemotherapy (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.23, 2.97), current endocrine treatment (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.21, 3.25), and poor body image (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.98, 0.99) were associated with less sexual activity at present compared to before breast cancer.

conclusionTreatment with aromatase inhibitor seems to affect sexual health even beyond discontinuation. Several common late effects were associated with sexual inactivity and reduced sexual functioning. To identify BCSs at risk of sexual dysfunction, special attention should be paid to patients treated with aromatase inhibitor or suffering from these late effects.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCancer SurvivorsSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalAromatase InhibitorsFemaleHumansMiddle AgedQuality of LifeSexual BehaviorSurveys and QuestionnairesAromatase InhibitorsAromatase inhibitorBreast cancer survivorshipLate effectsSexual function

Identifiers

PMID35226237
PMCPMC8993724
OpenAlexW4214716664

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.