Sexual health in female and male cancer survivors – compared with age-matched cancer-free controls in Norway
Background and purpose: Sexual dysfunction is a common late effect of cancer reducing quality of life. This study investigated sexual health in cancer survivors shortly after diagnosis and at long-term follow-up compared to the general population. Methods: A nationwide survey stratified by sex and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Medical Journals Sweden
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Acta Oncologica |
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| Online Access: | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42451 |
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| author | Emilie Åsberg Guro F. Giskeødegård Jarle Karlsen Cecile E. Kiserud Guro Aune Marianne Nilsen Randi J. Reidunsdatter |
| author_facet | Emilie Åsberg Guro F. Giskeødegård Jarle Karlsen Cecile E. Kiserud Guro Aune Marianne Nilsen Randi J. Reidunsdatter |
| author_sort | Emilie Åsberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and purpose: Sexual dysfunction is a common late effect of cancer reducing quality of life. This study investigated sexual health in cancer survivors shortly after diagnosis and at long-term follow-up compared to the general population.
Methods: A nationwide survey stratified by sex and age was distributed to a representative sample of the Norwegian population. Of the 5,135 respondents (33% response rate), 453 were cancer survivors, and 4,682 were cancer-free controls. Time since cancer diagnosis was divided into two categories: 2 years or less (short-term) and over 2 years (long-term). Sexual health was evaluated using the EORTC questionnaires SHQ-22 and the sexual domains of the QLQ-BR23/QLQ-BR45. Multivariable linear regression analyses compared sexual health between cancer survivors and cancer-free controls, and between short- and long-term cancer survivors.
Results: Cancer survivors reported significantly poorer sexual health outcomes than cancer-free controls, except for the importance of maintaining a sexually active life, rated equally important. There were minimal differences in sexual health between short-term and long-term cancer survivors. Interestingly, male cancer survivors appeared to be more affected by sexual health challenges than females, when compared to their cancer-free controls.
Interpretation: This study is the first to utilize the EORTC SHQ-22 questionnaire to assess sexual health in cancer survivors and controls. Sexual health was found to be significantly worse in cancer survivors compared to age-matched controls. It is imperative to address this overlooked health issue in the follow-up programs for cancer survivors.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bdca0a6409684872b4fe88b6cb604fee |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1651-226X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Medical Journals Sweden |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Oncologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-bdca0a6409684872b4fe88b6cb604fee2025-08-20T03:02:10ZengMedical Journals SwedenActa Oncologica1651-226X2025-03-016410.2340/1651-226X.2025.42451Sexual health in female and male cancer survivors – compared with age-matched cancer-free controls in NorwayEmilie Åsberg0Guro F. Giskeødegård1Jarle Karlsen2Cecile E. Kiserud3Guro Aune4Marianne Nilsen5Randi J. Reidunsdatter6Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU, Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU, Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Oncology, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; Section of Gynecologic Oncology, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Social Work, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, NTNU, Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU, Trondheim, NorwayBackground and purpose: Sexual dysfunction is a common late effect of cancer reducing quality of life. This study investigated sexual health in cancer survivors shortly after diagnosis and at long-term follow-up compared to the general population. Methods: A nationwide survey stratified by sex and age was distributed to a representative sample of the Norwegian population. Of the 5,135 respondents (33% response rate), 453 were cancer survivors, and 4,682 were cancer-free controls. Time since cancer diagnosis was divided into two categories: 2 years or less (short-term) and over 2 years (long-term). Sexual health was evaluated using the EORTC questionnaires SHQ-22 and the sexual domains of the QLQ-BR23/QLQ-BR45. Multivariable linear regression analyses compared sexual health between cancer survivors and cancer-free controls, and between short- and long-term cancer survivors. Results: Cancer survivors reported significantly poorer sexual health outcomes than cancer-free controls, except for the importance of maintaining a sexually active life, rated equally important. There were minimal differences in sexual health between short-term and long-term cancer survivors. Interestingly, male cancer survivors appeared to be more affected by sexual health challenges than females, when compared to their cancer-free controls. Interpretation: This study is the first to utilize the EORTC SHQ-22 questionnaire to assess sexual health in cancer survivors and controls. Sexual health was found to be significantly worse in cancer survivors compared to age-matched controls. It is imperative to address this overlooked health issue in the follow-up programs for cancer survivors. https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42451sexual healthsexual dysfunctioncancer survivorsEORTC QLQ-SHQ22QLQ-BR23QLQ-BR45 |
| spellingShingle | Emilie Åsberg Guro F. Giskeødegård Jarle Karlsen Cecile E. Kiserud Guro Aune Marianne Nilsen Randi J. Reidunsdatter Sexual health in female and male cancer survivors – compared with age-matched cancer-free controls in Norway Acta Oncologica sexual health sexual dysfunction cancer survivors EORTC QLQ-SHQ22 QLQ-BR23 QLQ-BR45 |
| title | Sexual health in female and male cancer survivors – compared with age-matched cancer-free controls in Norway |
| title_full | Sexual health in female and male cancer survivors – compared with age-matched cancer-free controls in Norway |
| title_fullStr | Sexual health in female and male cancer survivors – compared with age-matched cancer-free controls in Norway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual health in female and male cancer survivors – compared with age-matched cancer-free controls in Norway |
| title_short | Sexual health in female and male cancer survivors – compared with age-matched cancer-free controls in Norway |
| title_sort | sexual health in female and male cancer survivors compared with age matched cancer free controls in norway |
| topic | sexual health sexual dysfunction cancer survivors EORTC QLQ-SHQ22 QLQ-BR23 QLQ-BR45 |
| url | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42451 |
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