Sexual Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sexual quality of life (SQL), one of the essential issues of sexual and reproductive health, negatively affects the overall quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the SQL of breast cancer survivors.

In this cross-sectional study, 410 breast cancer survivors were recruited in a two-stage sampling process. The quota sampling method was employed in the first stage, and convenience sampling was used in the second stage between December 2020 and September 2021. The data were collected using the sexual Quality of Life-Female, Female Sexual Function Index, Revised Religious Attitude.

The mean age of the participants and the time since the disease diagnosis were 42.64 ± 6.02 years and 13.9 ± 4.80 months, respectively. The mean score of SQL was 66.65 ± 10.23 (95% Confidence Interval: 66.63-67.62). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the SQL of breast cancer survivors was significantly correlated with their occupation (β=0.12, P<0.008), education (β=-0.23, P<0.001), their spouse's education (β=0.16, P<0.001), belief in the sex initiation by the spouse (β=0.23, P<0.001), fear of being hurt by sexual intercourse (β=0.21 P < 0.001), receiving training about sexual relations (β = 0.1, P < 0.049), lumpectomy (β = 0.11, P < 0.001), sexual function (β = 0.13 β = 0.001), and religious attitude (β = 0.27, P < 0.001). These factors explain 60% of the variance of the SQL score.

Considering the various factors contributing to the SQL of breast cancer survivors can inform interventions targeted at improving the health status of these women.