Sexual Satisfaction in Psycho-Oncology Patients: Characteristics and Correlates

Quality sexual relationships predict higher marital satisfaction and lower emotional distress in cancer patients. However, no studies have investigated the sexual satisfaction of patients visiting a psycho-oncology clinic. In this study, I examined characteristics of non-respondents to a sex-related question and identified characteristics and correlates of sexual satisfaction in patients visiting a psychooncology outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital in a sex-stratified format.

For 417 female and 169 male, those who answered the single sexual satisfaction item of the Functional Assessment of the Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) were categorized as "respondents," and others as "non-respondents" by sex. After adjusting for age, cancer diagnosis, and time after diagnosis, sex-stratified linear regression models were established using the FACT-G except the sexual item and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Female were 1.466 times more likely to decline to answer about sexual satisfaction. Older patients, and female with active diseases or recent chemotherapy, also tended to avoid answering. Among female and male, 24.5% and 26.0%, respectively, reported no sexual satisfaction, with no between-sex difference. Lower age, a longer time since diagnosis, greater social/family well-being, and lower depressive symptoms for female and greater physical well-being for male contributed to sexual satisfaction.

Psycho-oncologists should sensitively address sexual issues among older female in poor health. Paying equal attention to sexual issues for both sexes is necessary. For recently diagnosed older female with lower social/family well-being and higher depressive symptoms and male experiencing lower physical well-being, sexual issues should be thoroughly assessed.