ArticleBMC cancer2024
The impact of curative cancer treatment on sexual health - clinical results from the EORTC QLQ-SH22 validation study.
Article in BMC cancer, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Translation, cultural adaptation, and psychometric validation of the simplified Chinese EORTC QLQ-SH22 among cancer patients.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2026Article
- The impact on sexual wellbeing after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for ovarian cancer treatment.Gynecologic oncology reports · 2026Article
- Lived experiences of sexual wellbeing and psychosexual needs among adolescents and young adults with sarcoma: a qualitative study.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Sexual quality of life among patients with lung cancer and people living with HIV: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
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Abstract
backgroundThe European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has recently developed and validated a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for sexual health (SH) in cancer patients. Here, we present results from a secondary analysis of the EORTC QLQ-SH22 validation study. The objective was to investigate the impact of cancer treatment on SH over the disease trajectory into survivorship in patients who underwent curative treatment.
methodsParticipants completed the EORTC QLQ-SH22 and the EORTC QLQ-C30 assessing SH and Quality of Life. We analyzed differences in SH of patients on active cancer treatment compared to patients off-treatment (cross sectional group comparison) as well as changes in SH during the course of treatment (from pre-treatment to follow-up).
resultsOur sample consisted of n = 394 (66.2% females) curatively treated cancer patients with 34% of patients being on-treatment and 66% of patients being in their follow-up after primary treatment (off-treatment group). Compared to patients off- treatment, patients on active cancer treatment experienced less sexual satisfaction (p = .021, Cohen's d = .36) and libido (p < .001, d = .60) and had higher levels of fatigue (p < .001, d = .50). Importance of sexual activity, masculinity and femininity did not differ between groups. Treatment effects on sexual activity decreased with treatment completion (p < .001, d = .50). Patients undergoing intensified treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, or endocrine treatment) reported more treatment effects (subscale EORTC QLQ-SH22) compared to patients undergoing surgery only.
conclusionOur results highlight the negative impact of oncological treatment on SH and how increasing treatment intensity further impair SH. Sexual satisfaction and libido improve after treatment completion while other aspects (e.g. masculinity/femininity) do not change during survivorship. We suggest monitoring of SH from the start of cancer treatment on and beyond into survivorship using PROMs as part of routine cancer care. Routine monitoring allows systematic identification of patient's SH problems and may improve awareness as well as target intervention for those in need of care.
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