Sexual activity, function and dysfunction after a diagnosis of bladder cancer

Background

Sexual dysfunction is common in those affected by cancer and local and radical treatments for Bladder Cancer (BC) can affect sexual function directly.

Aim

To evaluate sexual function following a bladder cancer (BC) diagnosis.

Methods

Self-reported sexual function was collected 10 years after a diagnosis of BC as part of a cross-sectional patient reported outcome measure (PROM) survey exploring life after BC diagnosis and treatment.

Outcomes

Participants completed a combined EORTC QLQ-BLM30 and QLQ-NMIBC24 questionnaire, including questions on sexual activity, intimacy, erectile/ejaculatory function and vaginal dryness.

Results

A total of 1796 participants returned a completed survey out of 3279 eligible participants (55%). Of the participants who returned a completed survey, a total of 1530 (85%) participants answered sexual function questions. The median (IQR) age was 75 (70–81). Participants were predominantly men (78%) and married/in civil partnerships (66%). In total, 31% were sexually active. Vaginal dryness was common (66%) in women. Erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction (80% and 58% respectively) were common in men. Compared to TURBT +/- intravesical treatments, those who had radical treatment were less likely to be sexually active (adjusted OR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.44–0.72, P<0.001) and had worse mean scores for intimacy problems (29.1 [radical treatment] vs 12.1, P<0.001), male sexual problems (72.2 [radical treatment] vs 45.7, P<0.001) and overall sexual function (17.1 [radical treatment] vs 20.3, P=0.01).

Clinical Implications

These findings highlight the magnitude of sexual dysfunction in the BC patient cohort and can help inform patients during the pre-op counselling process and shared decision making prior to BC treatments.

Strengths and Limitations

This study provides the largest in-depth analysis of sexual activity and function after BC diagnosis and treatment, to date. Limitations include the lack of data on participants’ sexual function prior to BC treatment and the heterogeneity with respect to time passed since last BC treatment.

Conclusion

Sexual dysfunction in BC patients is common and rates appear higher following radical treatments compared to endoscopic. It is important to elicit these problems in clinics to enable counselling and treatment.