Review Article: Sexuality and Risk-Reducing Salpingo-oophorectomy

The impact of risk reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy on sexual function in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and women with Lynch syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

In the absence of an effective screening test, women with a high genetic predisposition for ovarian cancer are recommended to undergo risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRBSO) once childbearing is complete. This reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by up to 96%, but can result in undesirable side effects, including menopausal symptoms and sexual dysfunction. We have performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of RRBSO on sexual function in women at high risk of breast/and or ovarian cancer.

METHODS

A literature search of the AMED (Allied and complementary medicine), Embase and Medline databases was performed, using search terms including sexual function, risk reducing and oophorectomy. Results were filtered according to the PRISMA protocol. Quality assessment of studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data were pooled in meta-analysis.

RESULTS

There were 21 eligible studies, 10 of which reported sufficient data for meta-analysis. Most studies were retrospective cohort or observational studies. Fifteen of the 21 studies (71%) reported a negative impact of RRBSO on sexual function. Participant numbers ranged from 37 to 1522. Meta-analysis was performed with studies including 3201 patients. This demonstrated that RRBSO has a statistically significant negative impact on sexual function (SMD -0.63, [-0.82, -0.44], p = 0.03). There was a trend towards reduced sexual pleasure and increased discomfort but this did not reach statistical significance. There was minimal change in the frequency of sex. There was a significant increase in vaginal dryness post-RRBSO (SMD 9.25, [3.66, 14.83], p < 0.00001). There was no significant difference in sexual function between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal RRBSO. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) did not abolish this negative impact.

CONCLUSION

Sexual function declines post RRBSO, independent of menopausal status. Comprehensive pre-operative counselling regarding anticipated menopausal and sexual symptoms is key to setting realistic patient expectations and minimising post-operative distress. Information and support regarding management of these side effects should be available to all patients.

Satisfaction with prophylactic risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in BRCA mutation carriers is very high and little dependent on the participants' characteristics at surgery: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE

BRCA carriers are recommended to undergo prophylactic risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO). Possible adverse health impacts of RRSO, particularly when done before natural menopause, can reduce the long-term satisfaction with this risk-reducing strategy. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the level of satisfaction of women undergoing RRSO, also in relation to some specific characteristics at RRSO.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was performed in the Modena Family Cancer Clinic of the University Hospital of Modena (Italy). All BRCA1/2 confirmed mutation carriers who decided to undergo RRSO were recruited between 2016 and 2019.

RESULTS

Fifty-five women (29 BRCA1 and 26 BRCA2) (mean age: 50.4 ± 7.7 years [range 35-79]) were included with a mean follow-up after RRSO of 660.9 days (1.8 years) (range 35-1,688 days) (median: 549 days). No intraepithelial (Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma)/invasive cancers were found (0%) at RRSO. No vasomotor symptoms at 1 month after surgery were reported by 11/22 (50%) premenopausal women at RRSO. All women (100%) with new "RRSO-caused" vasomotor symptoms with no previous breast cancer initiated postmenopausal hormone therapy. At the final follow-up the satisfaction rate (0-100 visual analog scale points) of the participants was 96.4 ± 8.6 points (range 62-100). To the question "Would you undergo RRSO again if it was proposed today? (0-100 visual analog scale points)" the answer was 99.4 ± 3.2 points (range 79-100). These scores were in general very high and did not change in the different groups according to pre/postmenopausal status at RRSO, cancer survivors versus healthy women at RRSO, BRCA status, hormone therapy users/nonusers after RRSO, "RRSO-caused" symptoms versus not RRSO-caused (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this prospective study suggest that satisfaction with RRSO is very high and little dependent on the participants' characteristics at surgery. Women at high risk for ovarian cancer are very satisfied with their choice of risk-reduction strategy.

Sexuality of Women after Gynecological Surgeries

(1) Background: Disorders of sexual life negatively impact self-esteem and social relationships. This problem affects patients after gynecological surgery. Providing access to specialist sexologist care constitutes an important aspect of support for this patient group. (2) Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the sexual life of women depending on the time since surgery, extent of gynecological surgery and postoperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. (3) Methods: The study included 136 patients from gynecological outpatient clinics in Szczecin, Poland. The women answered questions from a special three-part questionnaire. Participation was anonymous and voluntary. The data obtained in the survey were subject to statistical analysis. (4) Results: Among patients with a sparing of the cervix, most have never or almost never experienced discomfort or pain during intercourse, and believe that the quality of their sex life has not deteriorated after surgery. It was found that cervical removal, despite the existence of other conditions, increases the chance of pain during sexual activity 11 times. We found that the removal of adnexa did not increase the risk of changing sexual activity. In patients who had not undergone postoperative chemo- and/or radiotherapy, sexual activity did not change after surgery, and they never or almost never experienced discomfort or pain during intercourse. On the other hand, it was shown, despite the smaller study group, that patients treated with postoperative chemo- and/or radiotherapy did not initiate sexual intercourse. (5) Conclusion: The more extended the gynecological surgery of the uterus, the greater the limitation of sexual life.

Primary immunoprevention of adult onset cancers by vaccinating against retired tissue-specific self-proteins

Despite the enormous success of childhood prophylactic vaccination against diseases caused by pathogens, there is currently no similar preventive vaccine program against diseases confronted with age like breast cancer and ovarian cancer. With the exception of the annual influenza vaccine, current recommendations for adult vaccination are for either primary vaccines not received during childhood or for booster vaccinations to maintain the immunity against pathogens already induced during childhood. Here we describe a strategy to provide prophylactic pre-emptive immunity against the development of adult onset cancers not associated with any definitive etiopathogenic agent. We propose that safe and effective pre-emptive immunity may be induced in cancer-free subjects by vaccination against immunodominant tissue-specific self-proteins that are 'retired' from expression in normal tissues as part of the normal aging process but are expressed in tumors that emerge with age. Primary immunoprevention of adult onset cancers like breast cancer and ovarian cancer represents a great challenge and an even greater unmet need for our current healthcare.

Does Type of Menopause Affect the Sex Lives of Women?

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting the sex lives of middle-aged women, and whether surgical menopause affects sexual function differently from natural menopause, by comparing effects on sexual performance of women with similar demographic features.

Material/Methods

The study included 151 women with surgical menopause (SM), 357 women with natural menopause (NM), and 186 perimenopausal women (PM). The women were asked to complete a 6-question survey of sexual performance parameters. The relationship between the demographic and clinical features and hormone levels of the groups and sexual function parameters were evaluated. We also compared these parameters between the 3 study groups, and paired comparisons were made between the SM group and the NM group.

Results

Demographic features, serum DHEA-S, total testosterone, and FSH levels were found to have statistically significant effects on sexual performance of women (p<0.05). The sexual function scores for the frequency of sexual desire, coitus, and orgasm were significantly higher in the PM group, whereas vaginal lubrication scores were lower compared to the NM and SM group (p<0.05). In paired comparison of NM and SM, the scores for the frequency of coitus, orgasm, and vaginal lubrication were significantly higher in the SM group, while sexual desire frequency scores were higher in the NM group (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Our study approached to this topic in an extended manner and found significant relationships between several demographic-clinical and hormonal factors. SM was found to not affect female sexual performance, except for sexual desire, more than NM.

Função sexual e incontinência urinária por esforço em mulheres submetidas à histerectomia total com ooforectomia bilateral

RESUMO O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar o índice de função sexual de mulheres submetidas à histerectomia total com ooforectomia bilateral (HT-OB), a prevalência de incontinência urinária por esforço (IUE) e sua associação com a realização desse procedimento cirúrgico em um hospital de referência em Belém (PA). Foram incluídas 162 mulheres, com vida sexual ativa, alocadas em dois grupos: aquelas que realizaram HT-OB em período superior a 12 meses (n=68), e aquelas que não realizaram (n=94). Utilizou-se o questionário female sexual function index (FSFI) para avaliação da função sexual, e um questionário desenvolvido pelos pesquisadores para coletar dados sociais, econômicos e clínicos, incluindo informações quanto à presença de IUE. O valor de significância foi definido como p<0,05. Houve diferença significativa no índice de função sexual entre o grupo HT-OB e o grupo-controle, com escore geral do FSFI de 23,56 e 28,68, respectivamente (p=0,0001). Os domínios desejo, excitação, lubrificação (p<0,0001), orgasmo (p=0,04), satisfação (p=0,0006) e dor (p=0,015) apresentaram escores inferiores em mulheres histerectomizadas. A prevalência de sintomas de IUE no grupo HT-OB foi de 35,3%, sendo observada associação significativa entre a presença desses sintomas e a realização da histerectomia (p=0,02). Mulheres que realizam HT-OB têm maior risco de disfunção sexual, e este procedimento cirúrgico é associado ao desenvolvimento de IUE.

Risk-Reducing Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy for BRCA Mutation Carriers and Hormonal Replacement Therapy: If It Should Rain, Better a Drizzle than a Storm

Women carrying a BRCA mutation have an increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The most effective strategy to reduce this risk is the bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with or without additional risk-reducing mastectomy. Risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRBSO) is recommended between age 35 and 40 and between age 40 and 45 years for women carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, respectively. Consequently, most BRCA mutation carriers undergo this procedure prior to a natural menopause and develop an anticipated lack of hormones. This condition has a detrimental impact on various systems, affecting both the quality of life and longevity; in particular, women carrying BRCA1 mutation, who are likely to have surgery earlier as compared to BRCA2. Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) is the only effective strategy able to significantly compensate the hormonal deprivation and counteract menopausal symptoms, both in spontaneous and surgical menopause. Although recent evidence suggests that HRT does not diminish the protective effect of RRBSO in BRCA mutation carriers, concerns regarding the safety of estrogen and progesterone intake reduce the use in this setting. Furthermore, there is strong data demonstrating that the use of estrogen alone after RRBSO does not increase the risk of breast cancer among women with a BRCA1 mutation. The additional progesterone intake, mandatory for the protection of the endometrium during HRT, warrants further studies. However, when hysterectomy is performed at the time of RRBSO, the indication of progesterone addition decays and consequently its potential effect on breast cancer risk. Similarly, in patients conserving the uterus but undergoing risk-reducing mastectomy, the addition of progesterone should not raise significant concerns for breast cancer risk anymore. Therefore, BRCA mutation carriers require careful counselling about the scenarios following their RRBSO, menopausal symptoms or the fear associated with HRT use.

Concerns and Expectations of Risk-Reducing Surgery in Women with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome

Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer syndrome (HBOC) carriers face complex decisions, which might affect their fertility and body image. Using an anonymous 40-items questionnaire we evaluated the expectations and concerns about Risk-Reducing Surgery (RRS) in 204 carriers. Participants are well-informed about the options to manage cancer risk, and women with previous cancer are more concerned with screening failure. Satisfaction with RR Mastectomy is high, even if many carriers are unsatisfied with reconstructed breast feel and nipple-areola complex tactile sensation and those with previous breast cancer report a change in their sexual habits. The decrease of libido and vaginal dryness are the most complained symptoms after RR Salpingo-Oophorectomy. Nevertheless, most carriers would choose RRS again, due to cancer risk or screening-related stress reduction. Women who deferred RRS are more afraid of menopausal symptoms and cancer risk than those who had undergone or declined surgery. Women who declined RRS feel well-informed and trust screening procedures. In conclusion, HBOC carriers consider themselves well-informed and able to choose the best option for their condition, would choose RRS again because of cancer risk and screening-related stress reduction, and those who delay RRS face a higher preoperative level of concern and need support.