A Prospective Study Assessing Sexual Function and Body Image Among Cervical Cancer Survivors: Exploring Treatment Modality Differences

We aimed to compare sexual function and body image among cervical cancer survivors.

Between August 1, 2016 and January 31, 2019, we conducted a prospective study with 104 participants. The FSFI and the FACT-Cx v.4.0 (B4 and C7) were the measurement tools.

Forty–seven and twelve hundredths percent reported sexual activity, with the surgical group considerably less sexually active than the non-surgical group (63% vs. 100%, P=0.0003). Throughout the follow-up, we found no significant changes in sexual function (P>0.05). A diagnosis of sexual dysfunction was made in 60.58% of cervical cancer survivors, 80.65% following surgery alone, and in 100% after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In comparison with survivors who did not receive radiotherapy, irradiated survivors had lower FSFI total scores (1.2 vs. 21.4, P T1=0.0001; 2.1 vs. 21.75, P T2=0.0002). In comparison with the non–chemotherapy group, the chemotherapy group's scores were considerably lower (1.2 vs. 21.15, P T1 <0.0001; 2.4 vs. 18.95, P T2=0.004). We detected no significant changes in body image scores (P=0.184). Except for T1 time assessment (2 vs. 3, P T1=0.016), no differences in body image between the surgical and non-surgical groups were found throughout the follow-up (P T2=0.992; P T3=0.207; P T4=0.139).

The rate of female sexual dysfunction was 60.58%, prevailing after therapeutic multimodality, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Throughout the follow–up, we discovered no significant changes in sexual activity and function, or in body image. In terms of body image, there were no significant differences between the surgical and non–surgical groups.