Sexual Function in Breast Cancer Patients

Methods: Assessment tool was the female sexual function index (FSFI), a questionnaire evaluating six domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain). In this longitudinal study patients answered the questionnaire prior to surgery (visit 1), 3 months (visit 2) and 6 months (visit 3) after surgery undergoing adjuvant treatment. 85 patients were included in the study and answered the first questionnaire. Nine patients who had no sexual activity at visit 1 were excluded from the study. 36 patients did not answer the questionnaire at visit 2 or visit 3. 40 patients, answering the questionnaire at visit 1, 2 and 3, were eligible for evaluation. 10 Patients (25%) received adjuvant chemotherapy (FEC x 6), 15 (37,5%) received antihormone therapy with tamoxifen and 15 (37,5%) received ovarian suppression with goserelin plus tamoxifen. Results: The FSFI total score at visit 1 (baseline score) was highest in group 3 followed by group 1 and group 2, although there was no significant difference between the groups. The FSFI total score decreased from 24.46 at visit 1 to 13.68 at visit 2 (p < 0.001) and 18.34 at visit 3 (p = 0.001) in the chemotherapy group, but was nearly constant with 20.89 at visit 1, 19.97 at visit 2 (p = 0.53) and 20.43 at visit 3 (p = 0.75) in the Tamoxifen group, and slightly decreased from 29.96 at visit 1 to 28.30 at visit 2 (p = 0.26) and 27.69 at visit 3 (p = 0.13) in the GnRH/Tam group. Conclusion: Female sexual function decreased in patients receiving chemotherapy compared to patients receiving antihormone therapy.