Sexual quality of life between healthy women and women with gynecological cancer: Results of a hospital-based case-control study in Türkiye

Background Gynecological cancers among women were both chronic and vitally health problems. The increasing prevalence of women with surviving gynecological cancers and the receiving treatments of cancer negatively affected the sexual quality of life.Aim The study was conducted to determine the sexual quality of life of healthy women and women with gynecological cancer and to determine the predictors of sexual quality of life in women with gynecological cancer.Methods The research is a hospital-based case-control study was conducted. The study was carried out with 65 patients with histologically confirmed gynecological cancer were compared with 75 controls, who were admitted to the different departments of the same hospital in the Izmir, in western Turkiye.Results The Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire score (SQOL) of cases was 60.12 +/- 9.01 and controls was 78.92 +/- 7.08. SQOL scores of cases were significantly lower than controls (p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis results showed that age (B = -0.295, p = 0.072), working (B = 4.981, p = 0.016), smoking (B = -4.590, p = 0.035), diagnosed with cervical cancer (B = -4.214, p = 0.045), and receiving chemotherapy (B = -4.722, p = 0.028) were associated with sexual quality of life in women with gynecological cancer (p < 0.05, R-2: 0.40).Conclusion Women with gynecological cancer had lower quality of sex life compared with healthy women. Gynecological cancers negatively affect women's sexual quality of life. Health professionals (especially nurses) should be aware of the potential problems that women with gynecological cancer may experience with their sexual lives. They should develop coping strategies and offer solutions for the problems experienced by women with gynecological cancer.