The Predictors of Sexual Satisfaction among Iranian Women with Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer targets women’s sexual organs and deals with patients’ femininity. The low age of incidence and the late stage of diagnosis of the disease in Iran give rise to sexual dysfunction among patients. Identifying the severity of the disorder, and its determiners can specify the probable groups to be influenced. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 144 women with breast cancer who underwent surgical and complementary therapies were included in the study. Data collection was done through questionnaires: FSFI, SSSW and the demographic and clinical information questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 42.31 ± 5.18 years. 76 patients (52.8%) underwent partial mastectomy and complementary treatments, and 68 cases (47.2%) underwent total mastectomy and complementary treatments. All patients had sexual dysfunction in all dimensions. The average score of sexual satisfaction was 84.3±10 10. The lowest sexual satisfaction score (79.6 ± 9.6) belonged to patients with total mastectomy (P = 0.013). Regression analysis showed predictability of patients’ sexual satisfaction by type of treatment and sexual function (P = 0.002 and P = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: Sexual dysfunction and the low level of sexual satisfaction in patients with significant predictive effect of treatment type and sexual function denote that the patients with breast cancer need to be assisted to have proper sexual function and satisfaction leading to higher quality of life.