Sexual (dys)function and the quality of sexual life in patients treated with colorectal cancer: An evaluation

The aims of this study were (i) to provide a conceptualization of sexual (dys)function and the quality of sexual life, (ii) to describe the most used measurements in the current research on sexual (dys)function and the quality of sexual life in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), and (iii) tc provide a review of the literature. Sexual (dys)function mainly refers to the biological aspects of the sexual response cycle, whereas the quality of sexual life refers to the subjective evaluation of this sexual (dys)function. Current research has mainly focused on measuring sexual (dys)function, such as erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction in men and dyspareunia and vaginal dryness in women. Sexual dysfunction appeared to be present, to some extent, in most patients. The percentage of men that experienced sexual dysfunction postoperatively varied from 5% to 88%. Women who were sexually active preoperative mostly remained sexually active postoperative. The percentage of preoperative sexually active women varied from 27% to 78%. Type of surgery (especially an abdominoperineal resection), (preoperative) radiotherapy, complications after surgery, a lower tumor location, having a stoma, and a higher age influenced sexual dysfunction negatively. Predictors of the quality of sexual life are not yet identified. Existing studies suffered from methodological shortcomings, such as a cross-sectional design, small sample sizes, and the use of non-standardized measurements. In future research, sexuality should be investigated prospectively from a biopsychosocial model, hereby including the quality of sexual life: and psychosocial factors associated with or predictive of sexual (dys)function and the quality of sexual life.