Chinese women's sexuality concerns after gynecologic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sexuality has been recognized as an integral aspect of quality of life. Issues surrounding sexuality have also been acknowledged to have a great impact on the quality of life of gynecologic cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to describe sexual function and sexual activity among Chinese women after gynecologic cancer and to identify significant predicting factors of women's sexuality outcome changes.

METHODS: This is a descriptive correlational study that was performed in mainland China. A sexuality scale was used to assess women's sexuality outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 156 Chinese women who had gynecologic cancer were included in this study. Study results revealed that sexual dysfunction was an important concern among these women (62.2%). The rate of sexual inactivity (70.5%) was relatively high. Reasons for sexual inactivity were related to worry about possibly weakening the potency of treatment (46.5%), fear of cancer recurrence (41.1%), and lack of sexual interest (31%). When looking at predictors of negative changes of women's sexuality after cancer, this study found that older age (>50 years old) was associated with the decrease of sexual desire/interest (odds ratio, 3.64; confidence interval, 1.19-11.16). Women who received radiation therapy had more severe vaginal dryness (odds ratio, 2.27; confidence interval, 1.10-4.72) and were less sexually active than those who did not have radiation therapy.

CONCLUSION: Chinese women after gynecologic cancer suffered from various sexuality concerns.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Considering the high rates of sexual dysfunction and sexual inactivity, there is a need to integrate sexuality into routine nursing care.