Perioperative sexual interest in women with suspected gynecologic malignancies

For women with gynecologic cancer, the impact of surgery on sexual interest and desire in the immediate and later postoperative period is not well characterized. The objective of this study was to report the perioperative trends of changing sexual interest and desire in a cohort of women undergoing surgery for suspected gynecologic malignancies.

This is an ancillary analysis of a cohort study analyzing health-related outcomes in women who underwent primary surgical management of a suspected gynecologic malignancy between 10/2013 and 10/2014. Subjects completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sexual Function and Satisfaction Questionnaire (PROMIS-SFQ) preoperatively and questions on sexual interest and desire at one, three, and six months postoperatively. Bivariate tests and multiple linear regression were used to analyze data.

Of 231 women who completed a baseline PROMIS-SFQ, 187 (81%) completed one-month, 170 (74%) three-month, and 174 (75%) six-month follow-up interviews. Following surgery, 71% of enrolled subjects were diagnosed with a malignancy. Women age <55 had a greater decrease in sexual interest from baseline to one month than women age >55 (-5.5±1.0 vs -2.3±0.9, p=0.02). In a multivariable analysis, age <55 remained associated with a larger decrease in sexual interest at one month postoperatively (-4.6, 95% CI: -1.8, -7.4), as did having cancer vs benign disease for women of all ages (-5.6, 95% CI: -9.6, -1.5).

This study provides new data regarding the timing and magnitude of changes in sexual interest following gynecologic oncology procedures.