Sexual and Psychological Implications of Gynecologic Malignancy

Abstract

The sexual implications of gynecologic malignancy are best understood by asking, and answering, the following three questions. What is the psychological effect on the woman? What is the physiological effect on the woman? What is the psychological effect on the partner? The psychological effect of the cancer on the woman is primarily determined by whether the malignancy is primary, recurrent, or terminal; the primary physiological determinants are whether the treatment is with surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. The partner can be affected psychologically by all six of the variables. Preoperative knowledge of the woman’s sexual history may influence subsequent treatments.