Sexual dysfunction in women with breast cancer : a systematic review
Rodrigues-Machado, Nelson (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Bonfill, X. (Xavier) (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Quintana Ruiz, Maria Jesús (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Santero, Marilina (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Bártolo, Ana (Portucalense University (Porto, Portugal))
Selva, Anna (Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT))

Date:	2025
Abstract:	Purpose: This systematic review aims to assess the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for sexual dysfunction (SdF) in women with breast cancer (BC). Methods: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL to identity longitudinal, observational studies assessing SdF in women with BC. Data extraction followed PRISMA guidelines. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to assess methodological quality. Results were narratively synthesised. Results: A total of 16 studies involving 4058 women met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the reported prevalence of SdF ranged from 17. 5% before BC diagnosis to 86% after 6 months of hormone therapy. Only one study reported incidence data. The six most commonly studied SdF domains were desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and dyspareunia. A significant number of risk factors associated with different dimensions of SdF were identified. Conclusion: SdF is highly prevalent in women with BC, particularly in the first year after diagnosis and treatment. These findings strongly suggest that SdF should be routinely assessed as part of survivorship care protocols. Due to the scant data on incidence rates and the wide variability in reported risk factors, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the onset and progression of SdF in patients with BC. Well-designed cohort studies are needed to better establish the incidence and aetiology of SdF in this patient population.
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Note:	Open Access Funding provided by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article de revisió ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Breast cancer ; Sexual dysfunction ; Prevalence ; Risk factors ; Systematic review ; Survivorship
Published in:	Supportive care in cancer, Vol. 33 Núm. 4 (april 2025) , p. 332, ISSN 1433-7339

DOI: 10.1007/s00520-025-09352-6
PMID: 40163251

13 p, 1.7 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles