Document Detail


Sexual dysfunction after premenopausal stage I and II breast cancer: do androgens play a role?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18554258     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
INTRODUCTION: Sexual dysfunction after breast cancer has been attributed to a variety of treatment associated and psychological factors. Data on the role of a treatment-induced decrease of testosterone for the development of sexual problems in breast cancer survivors have remained inconclusive. However, androgen metabolites constitute a more reliable measure for total androgen activity. AIM: To measure levels of total androgen activity in breast cancer patients and to investigate relevant predictors of sexual dysfunction after breast cancer. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with a premenopausal diagnosis of Stage I or II breast cancer and terminated adjuvant treatment, completed questionnaires on sexuality, quality of relationship, body image, and depression. In addition, blood samples were taken for the analysis of sex steroids. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Relationship (PFB), Beck Depression Inventory, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire. Analysis of dihydroepiandrosterone, dihydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, androstenedione, 17beta-diol, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androsterone, and ADT-G, 3-alpha-diol-3G, 3-alpha-diol-17G. RESULTS: Low levels of sex steroids reflected the medication-induced postmenopausal status independent of the type of chemotherapy treatment. Sexual dysfunction was present in 68% of the study group. Women with a history of chemotherapy were more affected in all of the FSFI-domains. The only predictor for desire was quality of relationship, while chemotherapy was predictive for problems with arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and sexual pain. Sexual satisfaction and higher FSFI sum scores were predicted by better quality of relationship and no history of chemotherapy, together explaining 54.2% and 49.7% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual dysfunction after breast cancer is common and women should be informed properly at an early stage of treatment. Specific interventions have to be offered considering person-related preexisting factors and couples at risk should be supported in the transition to sexual life after breast cancer.
Authors:
Judith Alder; Rosanna Zanetti; Edward Wight; Corinne Urech; Nadine Fink; Johannes Bitzer
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2008-06-28
Journal Detail:
Title:  The journal of sexual medicine     Volume:  5     ISSN:  1743-6109     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2008 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-09-08     Completed Date:  2008-12-24     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101230693     Medline TA:  J Sex Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1898-906     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
University Hospital Basel, Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Basel, Switzerland. jalder@uhbs.ch
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Androgens / blood*
Androsterone / blood
Breast Neoplasms / blood*,  drug therapy,  pathology
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
Combined Modality Therapy
Dihydrotestosterone / blood
Estradiol / blood
Female
Humans
Libido / physiology
Middle Aged
Orgasm / physiology
Premenopause / blood*
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / blood*,  diagnosis,  psychology
Testosterone / blood
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Androgens; 50-28-2/Estradiol; 521-18-6/Dihydrotestosterone; 53-41-8/Androsterone; 58-22-0/Testosterone

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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