Andrea Bradford|Bryan Fellman|Diana L. Urbauer|Jessica Gallegos|Kristen Meaders|Celestine S. Tung|Lois M. Ramondetta
Assessment of sexual activity and dysfunction in medically underserved women with gynecologic cancers
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center|The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center|The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center|The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center|Baylor College of Medicine|Baylor College of Medicine|The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
sexual dysfunction common longterm side effect treatments gynecologic cancer studies sexual problems gynecologic cancer survivors overrepresent white nonhispanic highly educated married women less known sexual health needs women medically underserved populations therefore conducted study characterize sexual activity sexual function populationwe recruited patients attending two gynecologic oncology clinics large public healthcare system primarily serves uninsured lowincome patients participants invited complete onetime survey assess sexual function sexual communication sexual distress relationship adjustment depression anxiety prior helpseeking helpseeking preferences reasons sexual inactivity data analyzed using descriptive statistics multivariate models predict sexual activity status sexual dysfunctionamong 243 participants majority n160 658 sexually active past 4weeks often due lack partner lack desire sex onefourth sexually active participants identified likely cases sexual dysfunction greater endorsement depressive symptoms predicted sexual inactivity sexual dysfunction multivariate analyses prior helpseeking sexual problems uncommon however significant minority participants expressed interest receiving care sexual problemsgynecologic cancer survivors medically underserved population high rates sexual inactivity sexual dysfunction future research identify feasible strategies address barriers sexual healthcare lowresource settings