Sexuality after breast cancer treatment: A physician’s survey of current clinical practice

Background

Side effects of breast cancer treatment (BCT) impact patients’ general and sexual wellbeing. Sexuality related complaints are reported by 70% of breast cancer survivors mainly due to the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). In clinical care, sexual side effects are often un(der)detected because physicians as well as patients experience barriers to discuss sexuality-related issues.

Materials and methods

We composed an online survey ourselves using known definitions about sexuality and menopause and known factors for not discussing sexuality. We used multiple-choice questions with a Likert scale to optimize interpretation of the statements. 64 practitioners completed the survey. With this online survey, we examined physicians’ knowledge of −and attitude towards- sexual wellbeing and detection and treatment of GSM in breast cancer survivors (BCS).

Results

Vaginal dryness and dyspareunia were the symptoms most associated with menopause (n = 63/64 (98 %) and n = 56/64 (87 %)) and sexuality (n = 63/64 (98 %) and n = 61/64 (95 %)). These 2 complaints were also the most discussed symptoms of menopause (vaginal dryness n = 51/64 (80 %) and dyspareunia n = 45/64 (70 %)). The main reason to not discuss these issues were absence of reporting GSM (n = 40/64 (62 %)) and absence of a direct cause to discuss GSM (n = 35/64 (55 %). 64 % (n = 41/64) of practitioners don’t feel sufficiently educated to discuss and treat GSM. They proposed vaginal estrogens to treat GSM as first or second line respectively in 12 % (n = 8/64) and 46 % (n = 30/64) of symptomatic BCS.

Discussion

Although sexuality related complaints are common in BCS, 64% of all participating physicians feel they are not adequately trained to handle them. More attention towards training of physicians is needed to discuss GSM related complaints also when they are not spontaneously reported by a patient and with clear guidance towards the medical treatment of GSM in BCS.