Sexual distress among men with cancer - a cross-sectional study

Many men with cancer experience that changes created by cancer and its treatment may impair sexual function. However, many studies investigating sexual impairments fail to consider whether such impairments are perceived as distressing, i.e. create sexual distress. We investigated the prevalence of sexual distress, overlap with sexual impairment, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and other symptoms associated with sexual distress in a heterogeneous male cancer population.

Across cancer diagnoses, 2792 men in treatment or follow up at the Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, were invited. The Sexual Complaint Screener (SCS) assessed sexual impairments and sexual distress. Regression analyses estimated the association of sexual distress with sociodemographic and tumor-related factors, other symptoms (pain, depression, fatigue, insomnia, fear of recurrence), and health-related quality of life. The number of patients who received help for or were interested in a consultation for sexual problems was calculated.

Six hundred and ninety-six patients, most frequently diagnosed with testicular (26%) or multiple (16%) cancers, completed the SCS. Forty-one per cent experienced sexual distress, 60% sexual impairment, and 34% overlapping sexual distress and impairment. Sexual distress was significantly associated with clinically relevant insomnia (OR:2.15; 95% CI:1.5-3.1) and pain (OR:1.90; 95% CI:1.3-2.9). Two thirds of all patients wished for help, but only one third of these were receiving help.

Sexual distress was widespread in men across different cancer diagnoses and sometimes presented without impairment, demonstrating that assessment of sexual problems must include the personal experience of distress and extend to men across cancer diagnoses.