Sexual activity and functioning in women who underwent salpingo-oophorectomy to prevent hereditary breast ovarian cancer.

Abstract

5097 Background: Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy effectively prevents ovarian cancer in women at risk for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer. Surgically induced menopause may affect sexual functioning. We aimed to explore sexual activity and functioning in women with risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy compared to age-adjusted controls from the general population (NORM). Methods: Through surgical records 361 women with risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy were identified, and 327 (67%) agreed to participate and delivered written informed consent (cases). Cases filled in the Sexual Activity Questionnaire and were compared to 654 controls from the general Norwegian population (controls). Results: Mean age at survey was 54.4 years and 54.5 years for cases and controls, respectively. 265/327 (81%) of the cases were sexually active compared to 465/654 (71%) of the controls (p = 0.001). The sexually active cases reported higher levels of sexual pleasure (mean scores 15.5 vs. 12.8 [p < 0.001]) and higher levels of discomfort (mean scores 4.0 vs. 3.0 [p < 0.001]) compared to sexually active controls. Conclusions: Women who had undergone risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy reported higher levels of sexual activity, higher levels of sexual pleasure but also higher levels of sexual discomfort compared to controls from the general Norwegian population. Sexual discomfort could represent an area for medical intervention in women who have undergone risk- reducing salpingo-oophorectomy to prevent hereditary breast/ovarian cancer. No significant financial relationships to disclose.