Sexual distress among men with cancer – a cross-sectional study
Background and purpose: Many men with cancer experience that changes created by cancer and its treatment may impair sexual function. However, many studies investigating sexual impairments fail to consider whether such impairments are perceived as distressing, i.e. create sexual distress. We investig...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Medical Journals Sweden
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Acta Oncologica |
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| Online Access: | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42525 |
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| author | Jonas Nahavandipour Christoffer Johansen Annamaria Giraldi Bolette Skjøft Rafn Annika von Heymann |
| author_facet | Jonas Nahavandipour Christoffer Johansen Annamaria Giraldi Bolette Skjøft Rafn Annika von Heymann |
| author_sort | Jonas Nahavandipour |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and purpose: Many men with cancer experience that changes created by cancer and its treatment may impair sexual function. However, many studies investigating sexual impairments fail to consider whether such impairments are perceived as distressing, i.e. create sexual distress. We investigated the prevalence of sexual distress, overlap with sexual impairment, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and other symptoms associated with sexual distress in a heterogeneous male cancer population.
Patients and methods: Across cancer diagnoses, 2792 men in treatment or follow up at the Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, were invited. The Sexual Complaint Screener (SCS) assessed sexual impairments and sexual distress. Regression analyses estimated the association of sexual distress with sociodemographic and tumor-related factors, other symptoms (pain, depression, fatigue, insomnia, fear of recurrence), and health-related quality of life. The number of patients who received help for or were interested in a consultation for sexual problems was calculated.
Results: Six hundred and ninety-six patients, most frequently diagnosed with testicular (26%) or multiple (16%) cancers, completed the SCS. Forty-one per cent experienced sexual distress, 60% sexual impairment, and 34% overlapping sexual distress and impairment. Sexual distress was significantly associated with clinically relevant insomnia (OR:2.15; 95% CI:1.5–3.1) and pain (OR:1.90; 95% CI:1.3–2.9). Two thirds of all patients wished for help, but only one third of these were receiving help.
Interpretation: Sexual distress was widespread in men across different cancer diagnoses and sometimes presented without impairment, demonstrating that assessment of sexual problems must include the personal experience of distress and extend to men across cancer diagnoses.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-753d06acf4d745339b5b108dae5c9290 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1651-226X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Medical Journals Sweden |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Oncologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-753d06acf4d745339b5b108dae5c92902025-02-10T06:51:49ZengMedical Journals SwedenActa Oncologica1651-226X2025-02-016410.2340/1651-226X.2025.42525Sexual distress among men with cancer – a cross-sectional studyJonas Nahavandipour0https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7731-6233Christoffer Johansen1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4384-206XAnnamaria Giraldi2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0033-8517Bolette Skjøft Rafn3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8269-3100Annika von Heymann4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0900-5575Danish Cancer Society National Cancer Survivorship and Late Effects Research Center (CASTLE), Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark Danish Cancer Society National Cancer Survivorship and Late Effects Research Center (CASTLE), Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark Sexological Clinic, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Mental Health Services Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkDanish Cancer Society National Cancer Survivorship and Late Effects Research Center (CASTLE), Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, DenmarkDanish Cancer Society National Cancer Survivorship and Late Effects Research Center (CASTLE), Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, DenmarkBackground and purpose: Many men with cancer experience that changes created by cancer and its treatment may impair sexual function. However, many studies investigating sexual impairments fail to consider whether such impairments are perceived as distressing, i.e. create sexual distress. We investigated the prevalence of sexual distress, overlap with sexual impairment, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and other symptoms associated with sexual distress in a heterogeneous male cancer population. Patients and methods: Across cancer diagnoses, 2792 men in treatment or follow up at the Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, were invited. The Sexual Complaint Screener (SCS) assessed sexual impairments and sexual distress. Regression analyses estimated the association of sexual distress with sociodemographic and tumor-related factors, other symptoms (pain, depression, fatigue, insomnia, fear of recurrence), and health-related quality of life. The number of patients who received help for or were interested in a consultation for sexual problems was calculated. Results: Six hundred and ninety-six patients, most frequently diagnosed with testicular (26%) or multiple (16%) cancers, completed the SCS. Forty-one per cent experienced sexual distress, 60% sexual impairment, and 34% overlapping sexual distress and impairment. Sexual distress was significantly associated with clinically relevant insomnia (OR:2.15; 95% CI:1.5–3.1) and pain (OR:1.90; 95% CI:1.3–2.9). Two thirds of all patients wished for help, but only one third of these were receiving help. Interpretation: Sexual distress was widespread in men across different cancer diagnoses and sometimes presented without impairment, demonstrating that assessment of sexual problems must include the personal experience of distress and extend to men across cancer diagnoses. https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42525Sexual ditressSexual functionNeoplasmsHealth related quality of life |
| spellingShingle | Jonas Nahavandipour Christoffer Johansen Annamaria Giraldi Bolette Skjøft Rafn Annika von Heymann Sexual distress among men with cancer – a cross-sectional study Acta Oncologica Sexual ditress Sexual function Neoplasms Health related quality of life |
| title | Sexual distress among men with cancer – a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Sexual distress among men with cancer – a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Sexual distress among men with cancer – a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual distress among men with cancer – a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Sexual distress among men with cancer – a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | sexual distress among men with cancer a cross sectional study |
| topic | Sexual ditress Sexual function Neoplasms Health related quality of life |
| url | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/42525 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jonasnahavandipour sexualdistressamongmenwithcanceracrosssectionalstudy AT christofferjohansen sexualdistressamongmenwithcanceracrosssectionalstudy AT annamariagiraldi sexualdistressamongmenwithcanceracrosssectionalstudy AT boletteskjøftrafn sexualdistressamongmenwithcanceracrosssectionalstudy AT annikavonheymann sexualdistressamongmenwithcanceracrosssectionalstudy |