Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36947327›Full record

ArticleQuality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation2023

Sexual quality of life in young gynaecological cancer survivors: a qualitative study.

Melanie Roussin, John Lowe, Anita Hamilton, Lisa Martin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Sexual dysfunction outcomes and reporting disparities after multimodal treatment for rectal cancer: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland · 2026
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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

4 authors.

Melanie RoussinSchool of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sunshine Coast, QLD, 4556, Australia. melanie.roussin@research.usc.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4048-1403
John LoweSchool of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sunshine Coast, QLD, 4556, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1222-2295
Anita HamiltonSchool of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sunshine Coast, QLD, 4556, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0694-9781
Lisa MartinSchool of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sunshine Coast, QLD, 4556, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on sexual quality of life (SQoL) is a significant and often neglected issue in the treatment and survivorship period of young gynaecological cancer survivors (YGCS). This study sought to explore women's lived experiences to understand how to protect and improve SQoL.

methodsA qualitative study with women aged 18-45 and pre- or perimenopausal at diagnosis (n = 15). A thematic analysis was performed in NVivo. Participants also completed a pre-interview questionnaire and The Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R).

resultsYGCS experienced high psychosexual distress. Notably, seven themes were identified: adjustment, confidence, fear, loss, shame, trauma, and communication. Gynaecological cancer (GC) treatment interfered with everyday life and had a long-term impact on mental, physical, and emotional health, with many reporting an altered sense of self, body image and sexual identity. Single women felt vulnerable in new relationships, while partnered women reported low sexual desire and guilt about sexual difficulties. Open communication, emotional intimacy, and an acceptance of the 'new normal' buffered the trauma of cancer and were vital to relationship satisfaction. Lastly, absent, or blunt patient-clinician communication contributed to psychosexual distress.

conclusionGC interferes with sexual function, partner relationships, psychosexual wellbeing, and quality of life. A better understanding of the lived experiences of YGCS can help healthcare providers to adopt a holistic, patient-centric, and multidisciplinary approach to SQoL. YGCS want psychosexual communication and support, across all stages of treatment and care. Healthcare providers should initiate and normalise conversations on the impact of treatment on SQoL.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsNeoplasmsEmotionsFemaleHumansQuality of LifeSexual BehaviorCervical cancerGynecologic oncologyIntimacyOvarian cancerPsychosexual distressSexual function

Identifiers

PMID36947327
PMCPMC10241684

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.