Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40163251›Full record

SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

Sexual dysfunction in women with breast cancer: a systematic review.

Nelson Rodrigues-Machado, Xavier Bonfill-Cosp, M Jesús Quintana, Marilina Santero, Ana Bártolo, Anna Selva Olid

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing 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

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

  1. Pooled it
  2. Exploring sexual health and function among Malaysian patients with advanced cancer: insights from the EORTC QLQ SH-22 questionnaire.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Sexual health among patients with breast cancer undergoing endocrine therapy: an integrative review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Article
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

6 authors.

Nelson Rodrigues-MachadoMethodology of Biomedical Research and Public Health, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain. NelsonDomingos.Rodrigues@autonoma.cat.
Xavier Bonfill-CospUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
M Jesús QuintanaUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Marilina SanteroUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Ana BártoloCINTESIS@RISE, CINTESIS.UPT, Portucalense University, Porto, Portugal.
Anna Selva OlidCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis systematic review aims to assess the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for sexual dysfunction (SdF) in women with breast cancer (BC).

methodsA systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL to identity longitudinal, observational studies assessing SdF in women with BC. Data extraction followed PRISMA guidelines. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to assess methodological quality. Results were narratively synthesised.

resultsA total of 16 studies involving 4058 women met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the reported prevalence of SdF ranged from 17.5% before BC diagnosis to 86% after 6 months of hormone therapy. Only one study reported incidence data. The six most commonly studied SdF domains were desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and dyspareunia. A significant number of risk factors associated with different dimensions of SdF were identified.

conclusionSdF is highly prevalent in women with BC, particularly in the first year after diagnosis and treatment. These findings strongly suggest that SdF should be routinely assessed as part of survivorship care protocols. Due to the scant data on incidence rates and the wide variability in reported risk factors, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the onset and progression of SdF in patients with BC. Well-designed cohort studies are needed to better establish the incidence and aetiology of SdF in this patient population.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalSexual Dysfunctions, PsychologicalFemaleHumansIncidencePrevalenceRisk FactorsBreast cancerPrevalenceRisk factorsSexual dysfunctionSurvivorshipSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40163251
PMCPMC11958476

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.