Sexual Health Before Treatment in Women with Suspected Gynecologic Malignancy

PROMIS pain intensity and interference after pelvic organ prolapse surgery

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questionnaires provide valid comparisons across disciplines. Pain measures can be used to track functional outcomes. Limited PROMIS pain data exist in gynecological surgery. We sought to use pain intensity and pain interference short forms to assess pain and recovery after pelvic organ prolapse surgery.

METHODS

The PROMIS pain intensity and pain interference questionnaires were given to patients undergoing uterosacral ligament suspension (USLS), sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) or minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy (MISC) at baseline, 1 week, and 6 weeks postoperatively. Clinical minimally important change was defined as a difference of 2-6 T-score points. Mean pain intensity and pain interference T-scores were compared at baseline, 1 week and 6 weeks with ANOVA. Multiple linear regression assessed 1-week scores adjusted for apical suspension type, advanced prolapse, concurrent hysterectomy, concurrent anterior or posterior repair, and concurrent sling.

RESULTS

At 1 week, all apical suspension groups showed minimally important change in pain intensity and pain interference T-scores. Between groups at 1 week, pain interference was higher in USLS (66.3±6.6) and MISC (65.5±5.9) than in SSLF (59.2±9.8), p=0.01. Multiple linear regression showed an association of hysterectomy with increases in pain intensity and pain interference. USLS had a higher proportion of concurrent hysterectomy (100%) than SSLF (0%) and MISC (30.8%), p<0.01. No difference was found based on apical suspension type alone.

CONCLUSIONS

No differences were found in PROMIS pain intensity and pain at 1 week postoperatively after apical suspension procedures.

Pelvic floor disorders and sexuality in women with ovarian cancer: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic floor disorders (PFD) are common conditions impacting quality of life and sexuality may worsen after ovarian cancer therapies. Our objective was to describe the prevalence of PFD and sexuality in women with ovarian cancer (OC).

METHODS

We reviewed articles indexed in the MEDLINE database until June 2020 and selected articles assessing UI, POP, FI and sexual dysfunction in a population of women with OC.

RESULTS

Of 360 articles, 18 were included: four assessed UI, two assessed POP, three FI, and 13 sexual dysfunction. PFD findings were highly heterogeneous due to the definitions used and the populations studied. The prevalence of any type of UI in patients with OC before treatment is around 50%, and about 17% report feeling a bulge in their vagina. These rates are similar to those reported in women without cancer. Similarly, the main post-treatment UI scores were not significantly different from women without cancer. Fecal incontinence has been less studied in women with OC but reported as affecting 4% of patients preoperatively and 16% postoperatively. About half of the women are sexually active after surgical treatment with high reported rates of dyspareunia (40-80%) and vaginal dryness (60-80%). Compared with healthy women, some authors found that OC patients had greater problems with loss of desire and poorer sexual function scores; other authors did not find a significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

While PFD seem to be common in women after treatment for OC, the rates are not higher than in the general population. Overall, there is a higher prevalence of UI and sexual dysfunction compared with bowel dysfunction. More prospective studies are needed to explore the impact of gynecologic cancers and their treatments on pelvic floor function and pelvic health-related quality of life.

Sexual function and quality of life of patients affected by ovarian cancer

INTRODUCTION

The sexual function (SF) in patients affected by malignancies represents an important aspect influencing the quality of life (QoL). The most frequent symptoms reported are the decreased sexual desire, dyspareunia, and/or problems with arousal or achieving orgasm. The present study is aimed at analyzing the available scientific evidence regarding the QoL and especially SF of patients affected by ovarian cancer who underwent surgical and medical treatment.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A preliminary research was conducted using Pubmed database with specific keywords combinations regarding SF, QoL and ovarian cancer. The principal findings considered in the present review were: the study design, the number of patients included in each study, the information about the malignancy (histology and stage of disease), the questionnaires administered and the principal findings concerning SF and QoL.

EVIDENCE SYNTESIS

The studies selected were 5 prospective series and 3 case control cross-sectional studies. The scores used were focused on SF, QOL, fatigue and psychological aspects. All studies reported a decreased SF and QOL. Different factors coexist in the influence on outcomes such as physical, hormonal, psychological, self body image, and mechanic outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

SF represents a fundamental aspect strictly related with QoL. Patients with ovarian cancer (as well all oncological patients) experience a reduction in their SF after diagnosis of malignancy and they should receive adequate counseling regarding this aspect.