An assessment of sexual difficulties in men after treatment for testicular cancer

A study of twenty-seven patients with testicular cancer who completed two questionnaires and of whom six were interviewed, as was one partner, is reported. The main aim was to obtain more information about sexual difficulties in this group of men. The study also attempted to assess the effectiveness of using the QLQ-C30 questionnaire; a self assessed physical and psychological questionnaire and the GRISS questionnaire, a specific sexual satisfaction questionnaire, in relation to sexual dysfunction in men with testicular cancer. The questionnaires revealed limited information about sexual difficulties and were of only limited usefulness with regard to extracting this information in comparison with interviewing. Qualitative interviews revealed themes of sexual attitudes and issues around body image. This would seem to suggest that a specific questionnaire needs to be devised, guided by further qualitative research in the form of interviews in order to obtain more information about body image and sexual difficulties which may be experienced by patients with testicular disease. The impact or significance of a diagnosis of testicular cancer might be influenced by the presence of a current partner, and this may be protective against future problems.