Sexual Functioning and Mood Among Long-Term Survivors of Clear-Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Vagina or Cervix

Abstract

Although establishing sexual relationships is viewed as an important developmental milestone for adults, sexual functioning has been a neglected area of investigation for survivors of gynecological cancer. This article describes the long-term effects of clear-cell adenocarcinoma, with a specific focus on sexual functioning as a major quality-of-life concern. The authors hypothesized that respondents with multiple factors that interfered with their sexual functioning would report greater sexual dysfunction, poorer adjustment, and relationship difficulties. Two additional goals were to describe late psychological effects, such as depressive symptoms, and to explore the relationship between health status, coping behavior, social support variables, and depressive symptoms. The findings provide preliminary support for a complex relationship between medical complications, sexual dysfunction, emotional adjustment, and marital/partner relationships: 38% of the respondents reported physical and psychosexual factors interfering with their sexual functioning. Although chronic sexual dysfunction is a legitimate concern by itself, the findings also suggest that sexual difficulties are associated with diverse problems involving mood, quality of life, and adjustment.

Key Words:

• Quality of life
• sexual functioning
• gynecological cancer
• long-term survivors