Sexual morbidity following radiotherapy for germ cell tumours of the testis

Abstract

An anonymous questionnaire study was designed to assess sexual function after orchidectomy and radiotherapy for testicular cancer. Questionnaires were sent to: (1) 237 patients treated with orchidectomy and abdominal radiotherapy in Edinburgh from 1974 to 1988; (2) 32 patients under “surveillance” following orchidectomy alone; (3) 402 “normal” age-matched controls. All were asked questions concerning sexual function over the preceding 6 months. All the patients were also asked the same questions with reference to the first 6 months after completion of treatment. Completed questionnaires were returned from 137 (62%) radiotherapy patients, 18 (56%) surveillance patients and 121 (35%) controls. There was a significant difference between the radiotherapy patients and the controls in almost all the parameters looked at including erection, ejaculation and libido with the treated group performing less well. In addition, almost 24% of the radiotherapy patients felt disabled or disfigured by the treatment, most commonly because of the presence of only one testicle. A deterioration in sexual function was observed with increasing age. In the radiotherapy group of patients there was no difference in response between the two time periods or in any of the treatment variables. The clinical significance of these observations are unclear but together with the increasing information on other toxicities emerging following this therapy the role of radiation for early stage seminoma is being brought into question. This study also confirms the morbidity of orchidectomy. We suggest that testicular implants should be offered more widely.