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Predictors of sexual well-being after endometrial cancer: results of a national self-report survey

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Abstract

Purpose

We examined whether sociodemographic, physical, reproductive, psychological and clinical factors at the time of diagnosis were related to women’s sexual well-being 3–5 years following treatment for endometrial cancer.

Methods

Of the 1,399 women in the Australian National Endometrial Cancer Study, 644 completed a follow-up questionnaire 3–5 years after diagnosis. Of these, 395 women completed the Sexual-Function Vaginal Changes Questionnaire, which was used to assess sexual well-being. Based on two questions assessing worry and satisfaction with their sexuality, women were classified into lower and higher sexual well-being. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to examine sexual well-being 3–5 years following cancer treatment and the factors associated with this at diagnosis and at follow-up.

Results

Of the 395 women, 46 % (n = 181) were categorized into the “higher” sexual well-being group. Women who were older (odds ratio [OR] = 1.97; 95 % confidence limit [CI], 1.23–3.17), high school educated (OR = 1.75; 95 % CI, 1.12–2.73), who reported good mental health at the time of diagnosis (OR = 2.29; 95 % CI, 1.32–3.95) and whose cancer was treated with surgery alone (OR = 1.93; 95 % CI, 1.22–3.07) were most likely to report positive sexual well-being. At 3–5 years post-diagnosis, women with few symptoms of anxiety (OR = 2.28; 95 % CI, 1.21–4.29) were also most likely to report positive sexual well-being.

Conclusions

Psychological, sociodemographic and treatment factors are important to positive sexual well-being post-cancer. Care that focuses on maintaining physical and psychosocial aspects of women’s lives will be more effective in promoting positive sexual well-being than care that focuses solely on physical function.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all the women who participated in the study. We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following institutions: NSW: John Hunter Hospital, Liverpool Hospital, Mater Misericordiae Hospital (Sydney), Mater Misericordiae Hospital (Newcastle), Newcastle Private Hospital, North Shore Private Hospital, Royal Hospital for Women, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Royal North Shore Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, St George Hospital; Westmead Hospital, Westmead Private Hospital; Qld: Brisbane Private Hospital, Greenslopes Hospital, Mater Misericordiae Hospitals, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Wesley Hospital, Queensland Cancer Registry; SA: Adelaide Pathology Partners, Burnside Hospital, Calvary Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australian Cancer Registry; Tas: Launceston Hospital, North West Regional Hospitals, Royal Hobart Hospital; Vic: Freemasons Hospital, Melbourne Pathology Services, Mercy Hospital for Women, Royal Women's Hospital, Victorian Cancer Registry; WA: King Edward Memorial Hospital, St John of God Hospitals Subiaco & Murdoch, Western Australian Cancer Registry. The Australian National Endometrial Cancer Study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (#339435) and Cancer Council Tasmania (#403031 and 457636). The ANECS Quality of Life study and clinical data collection were funded by a Cancer Australia grant (#552468). I.J. Rowlands and V.L. Beesley and are funded by NHMRC program grant (#552429), and PM Webb is funded by a Senior Research Fellowships from the NHMRC.

The ANECS Group comprises: A.B.. Spurdle, P. Webb, J. Young (QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute); Consumer representative: L. McQuire; Clinical Collaborators: NSW: S. Baron-Hay, D. Bell, A. Bonaventura, A. Brand, S. Braye, J. Carter, F. Chan, C. Dalrymple, A. Ferrier (deceased), G. Gard, N. Hacker, R. Hogg, R. Houghton, D. Marsden, K. McIlroy, G. Otton, S. Pather, A. Proietto, G. Robertson, J. Scurry, R. Sharma, G. Wain, F. Wong; Qld: J. Armes, A. Crandon, M. Cummings, R. Land, J. Nicklin, L. Perrin, A. Obermair, B. Ward; SA: M. Davy, T. Dodd, J. Miller, M. Oehler, S. Paramasivum, J. Pierides, F. Whitehead; Tas: P. Blomfield, D. Challis; Vic: D. Neesham, J. Pyman, M. Quinn, R. Rome, M. Weitzer; WA: B. Brennan, I. Hammond, Y. Leung, A. McCartney (deceased), C. Stewart, J. Thompson.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists. P. Webb has full control of all primary data and agrees to allow the journal to review the data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynaecological Cancers Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia

    Ingrid J. Rowlands, Vanessa L. Beesley & Penelope M. Webb

  2. School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Christina Lee

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  1. Ingrid J. Rowlands
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  2. Christina Lee
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On behalf of the Australian National Endometrial Cancer Study Group

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Correspondence to Ingrid J. Rowlands.

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Rowlands, I.J., Lee, C., Beesley, V.L. et al. Predictors of sexual well-being after endometrial cancer: results of a national self-report survey. Support Care Cancer 22, 2715–2723 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2263-7

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