Prospective long-term follow-up of sexuality and body image in women with primary vulvar cancer
(2025) In International Journal of Gynecological Cancer 35(10).- Abstract
Objective: To investigate the development of sexual activity, sexual function, and body image in women with primary vulvar cancer from the time of diagnosis to 24 months after the end of treatment. Methods: This nationwide prospective cohort study assessed health-related quality of life in women with newly diagnosed vulvar cancer using validated patient-reported outcome measures (EORTC-QLQ-VU34 [European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Vulva 34], Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form) and self-constructed questions at diagnosis, and at 3, 12, and 24 months after the end of treatment. For this study, outcomes concerning sexuality and body image were analyzed. Results were displayed as... (More)
Objective: To investigate the development of sexual activity, sexual function, and body image in women with primary vulvar cancer from the time of diagnosis to 24 months after the end of treatment. Methods: This nationwide prospective cohort study assessed health-related quality of life in women with newly diagnosed vulvar cancer using validated patient-reported outcome measures (EORTC-QLQ-VU34 [European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Vulva 34], Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form) and self-constructed questions at diagnosis, and at 3, 12, and 24 months after the end of treatment. For this study, outcomes concerning sexuality and body image were analyzed. Results were displayed as mean scale scores and proportions. The longitudinal changes of scale and item scores were estimated by linear mixed-effects models with patient random intercept for continuous/numerical outcomes, and by generalized linear mixed models for binary response variables. Results: Between August 2019 and August 2021, 138 of 153 consenting women (90%) returned at least 1 questionnaire, and 90 women (59%) completed the questionnaires at all 4 time points. Sexual activity increased from 9.8% at diagnosis to 22.8% after 24 months (odds of being sexually active at 24 months were 6 times higher than at baseline, p = .003). Vulvar cancer was one of the reasons for not being sexually active for 37.5% of the participants at baseline and 26.9% at 24 months. Most women (73.5%) were not satisfied with their sex life at baseline. At least at one time point, 25.4% of the women found sex important, and 32.6% needed help with changes in sexual feelings. The mean scale scores of sexual functioning and body image did not change over time. Conclusions: Sexual activity was low, largely due to the vulvar cancer diagnosis. Most women were not satisfied with their sex life. A substantial proportion of the women found sex important and expressed a need for help with sexual feelings.
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- author
- Zach, Diana ; de Hullu, Joanne ; Cruz, Ivette Raices ; Kolkova, Zuzana LU ; Sjöberg, Johanna ; Bohlin, Katja Stenström and Rådestad, Angelique Flöter
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-10
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Body Image, Clinical Oncology, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Quality Of Life, Sexual Function, Vulvar Cancer
- in
- International Journal of Gynecological Cancer
- volume
- 35
- issue
- 10
- article number
- 102120
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105017635570
- pmid:41043209
- ISSN
- 1048-891X
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ijgc.2025.102120
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- addc6609-0386-489c-ba61-0ed7893812d2
- date added to LUP
- 2025-11-25 15:35:40
- date last changed
- 2025-11-25 15:36:57
@article{addc6609-0386-489c-ba61-0ed7893812d2,
abstract = {{<p>Objective: To investigate the development of sexual activity, sexual function, and body image in women with primary vulvar cancer from the time of diagnosis to 24 months after the end of treatment. Methods: This nationwide prospective cohort study assessed health-related quality of life in women with newly diagnosed vulvar cancer using validated patient-reported outcome measures (EORTC-QLQ-VU34 [European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Vulva 34], Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form) and self-constructed questions at diagnosis, and at 3, 12, and 24 months after the end of treatment. For this study, outcomes concerning sexuality and body image were analyzed. Results were displayed as mean scale scores and proportions. The longitudinal changes of scale and item scores were estimated by linear mixed-effects models with patient random intercept for continuous/numerical outcomes, and by generalized linear mixed models for binary response variables. Results: Between August 2019 and August 2021, 138 of 153 consenting women (90%) returned at least 1 questionnaire, and 90 women (59%) completed the questionnaires at all 4 time points. Sexual activity increased from 9.8% at diagnosis to 22.8% after 24 months (odds of being sexually active at 24 months were 6 times higher than at baseline, p = .003). Vulvar cancer was one of the reasons for not being sexually active for 37.5% of the participants at baseline and 26.9% at 24 months. Most women (73.5%) were not satisfied with their sex life at baseline. At least at one time point, 25.4% of the women found sex important, and 32.6% needed help with changes in sexual feelings. The mean scale scores of sexual functioning and body image did not change over time. Conclusions: Sexual activity was low, largely due to the vulvar cancer diagnosis. Most women were not satisfied with their sex life. A substantial proportion of the women found sex important and expressed a need for help with sexual feelings.</p>}},
author = {{Zach, Diana and de Hullu, Joanne and Cruz, Ivette Raices and Kolkova, Zuzana and Sjöberg, Johanna and Bohlin, Katja Stenström and Rådestad, Angelique Flöter}},
issn = {{1048-891X}},
keywords = {{Body Image; Clinical Oncology; Patient-Reported Outcomes; Quality Of Life; Sexual Function; Vulvar Cancer}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{10}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{International Journal of Gynecological Cancer}},
title = {{Prospective long-term follow-up of sexuality and body image in women with primary vulvar cancer}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgc.2025.102120}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.ijgc.2025.102120}},
volume = {{35}},
year = {{2025}},
}