• A review of the impact of gynecologic cancers on women's sexual quality of life
  • Azam Zare arashlouei,1,* Atefeh Ahmadi,2
    1. Student Research Committee, Razi Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University Sciences, Kerman, Iran
    2. Department of Counselling in Midwifery, Nursing reserch center, Razi Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran


  • Introduction: Women's sexual quality of life is one of the key issues in the field of sexual health and fertility which can be influenced by various diseases. Gynecologic cancers can negatively influence the sexual function of women. Given the fact that a limited number of studies have been conducted on these women's sexual quality of life, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of gynecologic cancers on these women's sexual quality of life.
  • Methods: For writing this narrative review, the researchers conducted a search in databases, including Google Scholar, Pub med, Science Direct, ProQuest, Magi ran, and Sid through using keywords such as cancer, gynecology, sexual quality of life, and women. Initially, 32 articles were found whose abstracts were studied and, then, the articles that did not answer the research question were removed. Then, the full texts of the related articles were studied and, finally, the complete data of 14 articles were used to write this review article.
  • Results: Based on the findings of the study, the materials were classified into the following three general dimensions. Physical effects: For women who experience gynecologic cancers, the physical consequences of cancer such as body image disturbances, hair loss, and removal of female genitals can have negative effects on their sexual function. Psychological effects: Many women with gynecologic cancers suffer from emotional distress such as feeling less feminine and less attractive, as well as psychological consequences such as death anxiety and fear of recurrence, which can affect their sexual quality of life. Therapeutic effects: Cancer treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy can lead to problems in women's sexual quality of life, such as decreased sexual desire, lack of pleasure and excitement, orgasmic dysfunction, pain, and decreased frequency of sexual intercourse.
  • Conclusion: The results of this study can be used by the Ministry of Health and the health officials who are in charge of women with gynecologic cancer to develop educational and counseling programs as complementary treatment methods along with cancer treatment in the treatment protocol of these patients in order to improve their sexual quality of life.
  • Keywords: Cancer, gynecologic, sexual quality of life, women