Psychosexual Morbidity in Women With Ovarian Cancer: Evaluation by Germline BRCA Gene Mutational Status

Up to 75% of women with ovarian cancer experience psychosexual morbidity and approximately 15-20% of women with ovarian cancer have a germline BRCA1/2 mutation (gBRCAm). However, psychosexual morbidity remains unexplored in women with gBRCAm ovarian cancer.

Given their younger age, genetic diagnosis, breast cancer risk, and increased prevalence of surgically-induced menopause, we aim to assess whether women with gBRCAm ovarian cancer experience distinct psychosexual morbidity.

Psychosexual morbidity was investigated in 2 cohorts of women with ovarian cancer: women with gBRCAm ovarian cancer vs women with gBRCA wildtype (gBRCAwt) ovarian cancer. Between August 2019 and March 2020, women with high-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary, Fallopian tube or primary peritoneum were approached in clinic or telephoned and invited to take part. Exclusion criteria included: women with alternative histology; women admitted from clinic; and women who lacked capacity to independently complete the questionnaire. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and background information were collected at a single time-point per patient. Scores below 26.55 were interpreted to suggest psychosexual dysfunction.

Responses including total and domain FSFI scores, self-reported psychosexual problems and interest in psychosexual support were compared.

Of 103 women approached, 53% returned questionnaires. In this exploratory analysis, women with gBRCAm ovarian cancer were significantly younger (51-60 years vs 61-70 years, gBRCAwt, P = .010). There was a trend towards increased prevalence of surgical menopause (57% vs 27%, P = .097) and breast surgery (53% vs 22%, P = .132, gBRCAm vs gBRCAwt, respectively). Women with gBRCAm ovarian cancer scored higher in the FSFI questionnaire, particularly women under 60 years (15.1 vs 2.7, P = .070), approaching significance. Women with gBRCAm ovarian cancer expressed more interest for face-to-face services (P = .018), especially psychosexual therapy (65% vs 30%) and more often felt the service was insufficient, approaching significance (71% vs 44%, gBRCAm vs gBRCAwt, respectively, P = .076).

Women with gBRCAm ovarian cancer are younger, express more interest for specialist psychosexual support and potentially different psychosexual problems, warranting further exploration. Logue C, Pugh J, Foden P, et al., Psychosexual Morbidity in Women With Ovarian Cancer: Evaluation by Germline BRCA Gene Mutational Status. Sex Med 2022;10:100465.