The impact of uterine cancer and its treatments on sexuality

Introduction: The impact of uterine cancers on sexuality remains a subject little studied in Tunisia, a taboo subject and often overlooked by practitioners, patients and their partners. Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 100 Tunisian patients followed for endometrial or cervical cancer who had an active sex life before the disease. We passed the BIS and FSFI scales to these patients and asked about their socio-demographic data. Results: In our study, 42 % of patients had sexual dysfunction. In multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of sexual dysfunction were brachytherapy (OR: 37.908; 95 % CI [1.04–1377.13]; P = 0.047) and body image disorders (OR: 0.028; 95 % CI [1.15–12.33]; P = 3.37). In contrast, the important perception of sex life was the independent protective factor for this disorder (OR: 0.027; 95 % CI [0.25–0.92]; P = 0.27). Brachytherapy was the independent predisposing factor for vaginal stenosis (OR: 21.42; 95 % CI [1.21–379.26]; P = 0.037) and chemotherapy was the independent predictor for vaginal dryness (OR: 8.78; 95 % CI [1.04–73.52]; P = 0.04). Conclusion: Early detection of sexual disorders is recommended during follow-up consultations using validated, simple, short measurement scores that are accessible to oncology practitioners. You have to create a climate of trust and do not hesitate to take the initiative. It would be better to integrate the partners in these discussions in order to correct all the mistaken beliefs and to make them responsible.