Long-term sexual functioning in germ-cell tumor survivors
Abstract Background Survivors of germ-cell tumors (GCT) may suffer from long-term adverse consequences. Our study was conducted to assess a long-term sexual functioning in GCT survivors. Methods GCT survivors (N = 170) from the National Cancer Institute in Slovakia completed a Sexual Function Questi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2020-08-01
|
| Series: | BMC Cancer |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-020-07301-6 |
| _version_ | 1811294166341124096 |
|---|---|
| author | M. Chovanec L. Vasilkova L. Petrikova J. Obertova P. Palacka K. Rejlekova Z. Sycova-Mila K. Kalavska D. Svetlovska B. Mladosievicova J. Mardiak M. Mego |
| author_facet | M. Chovanec L. Vasilkova L. Petrikova J. Obertova P. Palacka K. Rejlekova Z. Sycova-Mila K. Kalavska D. Svetlovska B. Mladosievicova J. Mardiak M. Mego |
| author_sort | M. Chovanec |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Survivors of germ-cell tumors (GCT) may suffer from long-term adverse consequences. Our study was conducted to assess a long-term sexual functioning in GCT survivors. Methods GCT survivors (N = 170) from the National Cancer Institute in Slovakia completed a Sexual Function Questionnaire that was modified from PROMIS Sexual Function and Satisfaction Questionnaire 9-year median follow up (range 5–32) as a primary exploratory aim. Study groups consisted of 17 survivors (10%) who had active surveillance (AS, controls), and 153 (90%) survivors who received treatment beyond orchiectomy (Tx), including cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CT, N = 132; 78%), radiotherapy to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes (RT, N = 12; 7%) or both (CTRT, N = 9; 5%). Results In univariate analysis, treatment of any type resulted in difficulty to maintain erection during sexual intercourse compared to patients treated with AS (P = 0.04). Survivors who received CTRT had lower ability to achieve orgasm during sexual activities (P = 0.04) and they reported disappointment with their overall quality of sex life (P = 0.002). The number of attempts to initiate sexual intercourse did not differ. Sexual relationships caused none or mild anxiety and the desire to be sexually active was higher after CTRT (P = 0.05). Multivariable analysis confirmed that orgasmic dysfunction after ≥400 mg/m2 of cisplatin and issues in maintaining erection after Tx were independent of retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection (P = 0.03 and P = 0.04, respectively). Survivors were disappointed with the quality of sex life and had stronger desire to be sexually active independent of age, (P = 0.01 and P = 0.05, respectively). Conclusions This study identified an impairment in sexual function may represent an issue for long-term GCT survivors. Treatment with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy were associated with disappointment and stronger sexual desire, while a higher cumulative dose of cisplatin may be responsible for orgasmic dysfunction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:12:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0048e792e6fc454e88e2b941ef4164a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2407 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:12:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Cancer |
| spelling | doaj.art-0048e792e6fc454e88e2b941ef4164a02022-12-22T03:00:59ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072020-08-0120111010.1186/s12885-020-07301-6Long-term sexual functioning in germ-cell tumor survivorsM. Chovanec0L. Vasilkova1L. Petrikova2J. Obertova3P. Palacka4K. Rejlekova5Z. Sycova-Mila6K. Kalavska7D. Svetlovska8B. Mladosievicova9J. Mardiak10M. Mego112nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius UniversityDepartment of Medical Oncology, National Cancer InstituteInstitute of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius UniversityDepartment of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Unit, Comenius University2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Translational Research Unit, Comenius UniversityInstitute of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius UniversityAbstract Background Survivors of germ-cell tumors (GCT) may suffer from long-term adverse consequences. Our study was conducted to assess a long-term sexual functioning in GCT survivors. Methods GCT survivors (N = 170) from the National Cancer Institute in Slovakia completed a Sexual Function Questionnaire that was modified from PROMIS Sexual Function and Satisfaction Questionnaire 9-year median follow up (range 5–32) as a primary exploratory aim. Study groups consisted of 17 survivors (10%) who had active surveillance (AS, controls), and 153 (90%) survivors who received treatment beyond orchiectomy (Tx), including cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CT, N = 132; 78%), radiotherapy to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes (RT, N = 12; 7%) or both (CTRT, N = 9; 5%). Results In univariate analysis, treatment of any type resulted in difficulty to maintain erection during sexual intercourse compared to patients treated with AS (P = 0.04). Survivors who received CTRT had lower ability to achieve orgasm during sexual activities (P = 0.04) and they reported disappointment with their overall quality of sex life (P = 0.002). The number of attempts to initiate sexual intercourse did not differ. Sexual relationships caused none or mild anxiety and the desire to be sexually active was higher after CTRT (P = 0.05). Multivariable analysis confirmed that orgasmic dysfunction after ≥400 mg/m2 of cisplatin and issues in maintaining erection after Tx were independent of retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection (P = 0.03 and P = 0.04, respectively). Survivors were disappointed with the quality of sex life and had stronger desire to be sexually active independent of age, (P = 0.01 and P = 0.05, respectively). Conclusions This study identified an impairment in sexual function may represent an issue for long-term GCT survivors. Treatment with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy were associated with disappointment and stronger sexual desire, while a higher cumulative dose of cisplatin may be responsible for orgasmic dysfunction.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-020-07301-6Germ cell tumorsLong-term toxicitySexual impairmentChemotherapyRadiotherapy |
| spellingShingle | M. Chovanec L. Vasilkova L. Petrikova J. Obertova P. Palacka K. Rejlekova Z. Sycova-Mila K. Kalavska D. Svetlovska B. Mladosievicova J. Mardiak M. Mego Long-term sexual functioning in germ-cell tumor survivors BMC Cancer Germ cell tumors Long-term toxicity Sexual impairment Chemotherapy Radiotherapy |
| title | Long-term sexual functioning in germ-cell tumor survivors |
| title_full | Long-term sexual functioning in germ-cell tumor survivors |
| title_fullStr | Long-term sexual functioning in germ-cell tumor survivors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-term sexual functioning in germ-cell tumor survivors |
| title_short | Long-term sexual functioning in germ-cell tumor survivors |
| title_sort | long term sexual functioning in germ cell tumor survivors |
| topic | Germ cell tumors Long-term toxicity Sexual impairment Chemotherapy Radiotherapy |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-020-07301-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mchovanec longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors AT lvasilkova longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors AT lpetrikova longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors AT jobertova longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors AT ppalacka longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors AT krejlekova longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors AT zsycovamila longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors AT kkalavska longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors AT dsvetlovska longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors AT bmladosievicova longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors AT jmardiak longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors AT mmego longtermsexualfunctioningingermcelltumorsurvivors |