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Impact of a cervical dysplasia and its treatment on quality of life and sexual function

  • General Gynecology
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Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

In this case–control study, the impact on quality of life and sexual function in women with cervical dysplasia and conization will be evaluated, in order to address coping with such a premalignant lesion and to improve strategies for salutogenesis.

Methods

This multicenter case–control study evaluates women at special dysplasia outpatient clinic (T1) as well as 3 (T2) and 6 (T3) months after the diagnosis of a dysplasia. The women were subgrouped upon dysplasia only (S2) or dysplasia with conization (S1). Sexual function as well as cervix-related and general quality of life was assessed using validated instruments (FSFI-d, EORTC-QLQ-CX24, SF-36).

Results

Women with dysplasia had a lower sexual functioning than controls (FSFI: S1: 23.8 ± 9.7 (p < 0.003); S2: 25.3 ± 7.5 (p < 0.03); K: 29.1 ± 4.5) as well as a lower physical component score (SF-36: S1: 51.3 ± 8.6 (p < 0.02); S2: 51.7 ± 7.8 (p < 0.05); K: 54.2 ± 6.6) and had a significantly reduced body image (EORTC-QLQ-CX24: S1: 75.7 (p < 0.001); S2: 76.5 (p < 0.001), K:89.2). Sexual functioning was not affected by conization in the observational period over 6 months; however, sexual worry was impacted. Over temporal progression women who underwent conization worried more. Regression analysis revealed a cervical dysplasia to impact sexual function.

Conclusion

Data suggest that women with the diagnosis of a cervical dysplasia are impaired in their sexual function as well as general and cervix-related quality of life, mostly independent of conization or further observation. To improve salutogenesis in the long run, the communication on dysplasia and its treatment strategy at the beginning, as well as part of aftercare, or psychosomatic intervention, might be treatment options for women at risk.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all participants in the study, as well as the staff from the dysplasia consultation and outpatient clinics supporting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, Heidelberg, Germany

    Judith Heinzler, Janina Brucker, Christine Dinkic, Christof Sohn, Joachim Rom & Sarah Schott

  2. Institut für Medizinische Biometrie Und Informatik, Universitätsklinik Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Thomas Bruckner

  3. Universitätsfrauenklinik Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Janine Hoffmann & Nadja Dornhöfer

  4. Caritas-Krankenhaus St. Josef Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Stephan Seitz

  5. Poliklinik für Kieferorthopädie, Universitätsklinik Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Timm C. Schott

Authors
  1. Judith Heinzler
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  2. Janina Brucker
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  3. Thomas Bruckner
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  4. Christine Dinkic
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  5. Janine Hoffmann
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  6. Nadja Dornhöfer
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  7. Stephan Seitz
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  8. Christof Sohn
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  9. Joachim Rom
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  10. Timm C. Schott
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  11. Sarah Schott
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Contributions

JH data collection, data management, data analysis, manuscript writing, manuscript editing. JB project development, patient recruitment, manuscript editing. TB data analysis, manuscript editing. CD patient recruitment, manuscript editing. JH project development, patient recruitment, manuscript editing. ND patient recruitment, manuscript editing. SS project development, manuscript editing. CS project development, manuscript editing. JR project development, manuscript editing. TCS project development, manuscript writing, manuscript editing. SS project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing, manuscript editing

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah Schott.

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Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest by any author. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical standards

This study was approved by the local ethical committee in Heidelberg (S-399/2015), Leipzig (091/17-lk) and Regensburg (16-377-103). All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Heinzler, J., Brucker, J., Bruckner, T. et al. Impact of a cervical dysplasia and its treatment on quality of life and sexual function. Arch Gynecol Obstet 298, 737–745 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4853-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4853-y

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