Genitourinary symptoms in breast cancer survivors: Prevalence, correlates, and relationship with sexual functioning

Ying Sheng; Janet S. Carpenter; Andrea A. Cohee; Susan Storey; Timothy E. Stump; Patrick O. Monahan; David Cella; Victoria L. Champion

doi:10.1188/21.ONF.229-241

Genitourinary symptoms in breast cancer survivors: Prevalence, correlates, and relationship with sexual functioning

Ying Sheng^*, Janet S. Carpenter, Andrea A. Cohee, Susan Storey, Timothy E. Stump, Patrick O. Monahan, David Cella, Victoria L. Champion

^*Corresponding author for this work

Medical Social Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate (a) the prevalence of genitourinary symptoms, (b) which demographic and clinical factors predict genitourinary symptoms, and (c) the association between genitourinary symptoms and sexual functioning in breast cancer survivors. SAMPLE & SETTING: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional, patient-reported outcomes data from 1,085 breast cancer survivors was conducted. METHODS & VARIABLES: Prevalence and correlations with demographics, clinical factors, and sexual functioning were identified using descriptive analysis, multivariable logistic regression analysis, chi-square tests, t tests, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Symptoms included vaginal/vulvar irritation, pelvic discomfort, problems with urinary control, vaginal infection, and vaginal bleeding. Younger age, more comorbidities, and taking treatment for menopausal symptoms were significantly related to reporting genitourinary symptoms. Experiencing more symptoms was associated with lower sexual functioning. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: The prevalence, correlates, and relationship of genitourinary symptoms with sexual functioning supports the assessment and treatment of these symptoms as part of routine care for breast cancer survivors.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	229-241
Number of pages	13
Journal	Oncology nursing forum
Volume	48
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1188/21.ONF.229-241
State	Published - Mar 2021

Funding

The data used in this article are from a study that was coordinated by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group–American College of Radiology Imaging Network Cancer Research Group (group co-chairs: Robert L. Comis, MD, and Mitchell D. Schnall, MD, PhD) and was supported, in part, by public health service grants (CA189828, CA180795, CA37403, CA35199, CA17145 and CA49883) from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Sheng is supported as a postdoctoral fellow under 5T32CA117865 (principal investigator [PI]: V. Champion), Cohee is supported by the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute KL2 Program (UL1TR002529; PI: A. Shekhar), and Storey is supported by a research grant (RE01) from the Oncology Nursing Foundation.

Keywords

Breast cancer survivors
Genitourinary symptoms
Sexual functioning
Vaginal atrophy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oncology(nursing)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1188/21.ONF.229-241

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abstract = "OBJECTIVES: To evaluate (a) the prevalence of genitourinary symptoms, (b) which demographic and clinical factors predict genitourinary symptoms, and (c) the association between genitourinary symptoms and sexual functioning in breast cancer survivors. SAMPLE & SETTING: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional, patient-reported outcomes data from 1,085 breast cancer survivors was conducted. METHODS & VARIABLES: Prevalence and correlations with demographics, clinical factors, and sexual functioning were identified using descriptive analysis, multivariable logistic regression analysis, chi-square tests, t tests, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Symptoms included vaginal/vulvar irritation, pelvic discomfort, problems with urinary control, vaginal infection, and vaginal bleeding. Younger age, more comorbidities, and taking treatment for menopausal symptoms were significantly related to reporting genitourinary symptoms. Experiencing more symptoms was associated with lower sexual functioning. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: The prevalence, correlates, and relationship of genitourinary symptoms with sexual functioning supports the assessment and treatment of these symptoms as part of routine care for breast cancer survivors.",

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AU - Cella, David

AU - Champion, Victoria L.

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Genitourinary symptoms in breast cancer survivors: Prevalence, correlates, and relationship with sexual functioning

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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