Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37058221›Full record

ArticleArchives of sexual behavior2023

Gynecological Cancer Survivors' Experiences of Dyspareunia and Factors Influencing Care-Seeking Behavior: A Qualitative Study.

Marie-Pierre Cyr, Chantal Camden, Chantale Dumoulin, Rosalie Dostie, Paul Bessette, Annick Pina, Walter Henry Gotlieb, Korine Lapointe-Milot, Marie-Hélène Mayrand, Mélanie Morin

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Archives of sexual behavior, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Approach to lubricant use for sexual activity.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien
    Review
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

10 authors.

Marie-Pierre CyrSchool of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, 3001, 12E Avenue N, Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5N4, Canada.
Chantal CamdenSchool of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, 3001, 12E Avenue N, Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5N4, Canada.
Chantale DumoulinSchool of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Rosalie DostieSchool of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, 3001, 12E Avenue N, Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5N4, Canada.
Paul BessetteResearch Center of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
Annick PinaDivision of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Walter Henry GotliebDivision of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Korine Lapointe-MilotResearch Center of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
Marie-Hélène MayrandResearch Center of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Mélanie MorinSchool of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, 3001, 12E Avenue N, Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5N4, Canada. melanie.m.morin@usherbrooke.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7171-1411

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Pain during sexual intercourse, also called dyspareunia, affects most women after treatment for gynecological cancer. Previous work adopted a biomedical approach to depict dyspareunia in this population, which provided a narrow perspective of this condition. Taking into account women's experiences of dyspareunia and the factors influencing their care-seeking behaviors would provide insight to improve care in the context of gynecological cancer. The aim of this study was to describe gynecological cancer survivors' experiences of dyspareunia and factors influencing care-seeking behavior. A qualitative study was performed with 28 gynecological cancer survivors with dyspareunia. Individual telephone interviews were conducted based on the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation. Interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis using the interpretative description framework. Concerning their experience, participants reported the oncological treatments as the primary cause of dyspareunia. Loss of libido, lower vaginal lubrication, and smaller vaginal cavity were described as being linked with dyspareunia. Women explained how dyspareunia and these changes had led them to engage less in, and even interrupt, sexual activity. They expressed that they were distressed, felt less of a woman, and experienced low control and/or self-efficacy. Regarding the factors influencing women's care-seeking behaviors, participants emphasized that they were provided with insufficient information and support. Balancing priorities, denial or reluctance, misbeliefs, resignation and acceptance, and negative emotions were reported as barriers, whereas acknowledgement of sexual dysfunction, desire for improvement, awareness of treatment possibilities, willingness to undertake treatment and treatment acceptability were reported as facilitators to seeking care. Findings suggest that dyspareunia is a complex and impactful condition after gynecological cancer. While this study highlights the importance of alleviating the burden of sexual dysfunction in cancer survivors, it identified factors that should be considered in the provision of services to improve care.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsDyspareuniaNeoplasmsSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalCoitusFemaleHumansPatient Acceptance of Health CareSexual BehaviorCancer survivorshipDyspareuniaGynecological cancerPainSexual activitySexual dysfunction

Identifiers

PMID37058221

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.