Sexual and reproductive complications and concerns of survivors of childhood, adolescent and adult cancer

Abstract

Purpose: Cancer survivors may experience infertility and sexual dysfunction following cancer treatment. Survivors report significant gaps in oncofertility care and consider these issues important, yet they are rarely discussed. The aims of this study were to evaluate survivors’ sexual and reproductive complications across age groups and to identify specific groups of survivors at risk for sexual and reproductive complications. Method: We report data collected from survivors of cancers diagnosed in childhood, adolescence and adulthood following the development and piloting of a reproductive survivorship patient reported outcome measure (RS-PROM). Results: One hundred and fifty survivors participated in the study (mean age at cancer diagnosis was 23.2 years [SD, 10.3 years]). About 68% of participants expressed concerns about their sexual health and function. Survivors (50%) expressed at least one body image concern, with the female gender the most common risk factor for all subgroups. A total of 36% of participants reported at least one concern regarding their fertility, with more male than female survivors reporting fertility preservation prior to treatment. Females compared with male participants were more likely to feel less physically attractive after treatment (OR = 3.83, 95% CI = 1.84–7.95, p < 0.001). More females than males were also more likely to feel dissatisfied with the appearance of a scar(s) after treatment (OR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.13–4.91, p = 0.02). Conclusion: The RS-PROM identified multiple reproductive complications and concerns for cancer survivors in the survivorship period. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Utilising the RS-PROM in conjunction with a clinic appointment could help identify and address cancer patients’ concerns and symptoms.