Experience of Sexuality in Women with Gynecological Cancer: Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies

Abstract

Gynecological cancers have an impact on women's psychosexual health in which results vary from adjuvant cancer therapy, such as loss of pleasure, to anxious symptoms. This study aimed to present a meta-synthesis of qualitative primary studies on the sexual experience of women with gynecological cancer. The SPIDER tool and the PRISMA guidelines were used to recover evidence from the databases Web of Science, SCOPUS, PubMed/MedLine, CINAHL, PsycINFO and LILACS. Twenty articles were included. The thematic synthesis showed that alterations in sexual functions can be mitigated by direct involvement and dialogue with a sexual partner and the resignification of sexual intimacy.

Keywords:

• Meta-synthesis
• women
• genital neoplasms
• female
• breast neoplasms
• sexuality

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Authors contributors

CS, AVSLS, ECGR and MAS were responsible for the study design. CS and AVSLS performed data collection, analysis and interpretation of data. CS, AVSLS and MAS drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) [File Number: 88887.600242/2021-00].