Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39085090›Full record

ArticlePlastic and reconstructive surgery2025

Breast-Conserving Therapy Preserves Sexual Well-Being More than Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction: Trends, Factors, and Interventions.

Carrie S Stern, Minji Kim, Elizabeth Smith Montes, Lillian A Boe, Kevin Zhang, Perri Vingan, Jeanne Carter, Babak J Mehrara, Audree B Tadros, Robert J Allen and 1 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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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

11 authors.

Carrie S SternFrom the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service.
Minji KimFrom the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service.
Elizabeth Smith MontesFrom the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service.
Lillian A BoeDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
Kevin ZhangFrom the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service.
Perri VinganFrom the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service.
Jeanne CarterDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Babak J MehraraFrom the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service.
Audree B TadrosBreast Service, Department of Surgery.
Robert J AllenFrom the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service.
Jonas A NelsonFrom the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service.

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI SELWYN M VICKERS · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUp to 85% of patients with breast cancer report sexual health concerns, but their concerns are not adequately addressed by providers. Sexual dysfunction among patients with breast cancer remains understudied. The authors aimed to investigate the impact of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) and postmastectomy breast reconstruction (PMBR) on the sexual health of patients with breast cancer and the frequency of sexual medicine consultation in postoperative care.

methodsThe authors conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent BCT or PMBR and completed the Sexual Well-Being section of the BREAST-Q BCT and Reconstruction modules from January of 2010 through October of 2022. They compared Sexual Well-Being scores between patients who received BCT or PMBR over time up to 5 years after surgery, delineated associated demographic and clinical factors with Sexual Well-Being scores, and evaluated the frequency of sexual medicine consultations.

resultsOf 15,857 patients, 8510 (53.7%) underwent BCT and 7347 (46.3%) underwent PMBR. Patients who underwent PMBR had significantly lower Sexual Well-Being scores than patients who underwent BCT from preoperatively to 5 years postoperatively. Regression analyses showed that patients who underwent PMBR scored 7.6 points lower at 1 year than patients who underwent BCT. Separated marital status, higher body mass index, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, psychiatric diagnosis, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy were associated with significantly lower Sexual Well-Being scores. A total of 299 patients (3.5%) who underwent BCT and 400 patients (5.4%) who underwent PMBR received sexual medicine consultations.

conclusionsSexual health concerns must be considered in breast cancer care, particularly among patients who undergo PMBR. Although many patients experience sexual dysfunction, most do not receive a sexual medicine consultation, suggesting an opportunity for providers to improve the sexual health of patients with breast cancer. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsMammaplastyMastectomy, SegmentalSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalSexual HealthAdultAgedFemaleHumansMastectomyMiddle AgedQuality of LifeRetrospective Studies

Identifiers

PMID39085090
PMCPMC12904154

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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.