Prevalence and severity of sexual dysfunction in women experiencing urinary incontinence with and without breast cancer: A matched control study

Abstract

Symptoms of either female sexual dysfunction (FSD) or urinary incontinence (UI) after breast cancer treatment are reported to be common. Despite this, the prevalence and severity of FSD in women who experience UI after breast cancer treatment has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence and severity of FSD in women with and without breast cancer who experience UI. A secondary analysis of data from a larger cross-sectional study was undertaken. 21 pairs of sexually active women with and without breast cancer who experienced UI were matched according to age, body-mass index and parity. The severity of FSD was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Participant demographics, prevalence of FSD, and FSFI scores were reported descriptively. Differences in prevalence rate of FSD and FSFI scores between women with and without breast cancer and UI were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank or McNemar’s tests. Participants with breast cancer who experienced UI reported significantly higher rates of FSD ( n = 19/21, 90%) compared to participants without breast cancer with UI ( n = 10/21, 48% p = 0.0028). Participants with breast cancer and UI had a significantly lower overall FSFI score (median = 18.8, IQR = 12.5) compared to those without breast cancer with UI (median = 25.9, IQR = 10, p = 0.0096). They also reported lower arousal, less lubrication, lower satisfaction and more pain during sexual activity compared to participants without breast cancer who experienced UI. Participants with breast cancer who experienced UI had a higher prevalence and severity of FSD than participants without breast cancer with UI. They reported having lower arousal, lubrication, satisfaction and more pain during sexual activity. These preliminary results suggest larger studies to investigate sexual function in women with breast cancer and UI are warranted.