AIM
This study investigates the relationship between time since OTP cancer treatment and interest in sexual activity.
METHOD
Women with OTP cancer took part in a focus group and/or online survey assessing the importance and relevance of items in the EORTC QLQ C30/OV28 (mean age = 59.11 years). Importance of sexual activity and interest was analysed against time since treatment (during treatment, <6 months after treatment and >6 months after treatment). 148 women completed the survey, of which 24 attended one of four virtual focus groups. Quantitative analysis was completed using a Pearson chi-square test. Focus group data were analysed using thematic analysis.
RESULTS
When completing the survey, 40.5% of participants had not finished treatment, 29.7% had their last treatment <6 months ago and 29.7% had treatment >6 months ago. Overall, 31.7%, 40.9%, and 45.5% of women indicated the importance placed on sexual interest at timepoints for ‘currently in treatment’, ‘<6 months since treatment’, and ‘>6 months since treatment’, respectively. However, this variance was not significant (p .169). In contrast, 50% of women whose treatment was >6 months ago perceived engagement in sexual activity as important, compared to those who completed treatment <6 months ago (38.6%) and those currently in treatment (30%); p .009. These findings were supported by focus group discussions where there was consensus around domains such as intimacy, sexual desire, and sexual functioning being less important during treatment.
CONCLUSION
While interest in sex was not found to be an important domain for a majority of participants regardless of treatment period, the perceived importance of sexual activity was. Perceived importance increased with time since treatment, demonstrating the long-term importance participants place on being sexually active. This could assist in the provision of interventions and information relevant to the long-term sexual health of women with OTP cancer.