REVIEW  UPDATES IN OVARIAN CANCER AND SECONDARY PERITONEAL TUMORS 

Minerva Medica 2019 August;110(4):320-9

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.19.06080-4

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

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

Stefano CIANCI ¹ ✉, Mattia TARASCIO ¹, Andrea ROSATI ¹, Salvatore CARUSO ², Stefano UCCELLA ³, Francesco COSENTINO ⁴, Giuseppe SCALETTA ¹, Salvatore GUELI ALLETTI ¹, Giovanni SCAMBIA ^{1, 5}

¹ Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Women and Children’s Health, A. Gemelli University Hospital and Institute for Research and Care, Rome, Italy; ² Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, Gynecological Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; ³ Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nuovo Ospedale degli Infermi, Biella, Italy; ⁴ Department of Oncology, Giovanni Paolo II Foundation, Campobasso, Italy; ⁵ Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Policlinico A. Gemelli Foundation, Rome, Italy

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.

KEY WORDS: Ovarian neoplasms; Sexual behavior; Quality of Life; Therapeutics