Addressing Sexual Dysfunction After Risk‐Reducing Salpingo‐Oophorectomy: Effects of a Brief, Psychosexual Intervention. (14th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bober, Sharon L.; Recklitis, Christopher J.; Bakan, Jennifer; Garber, Judy E.; Patenaude, Andrea F.
• Is Part Of: Journal of sexual medicine. Volume 12:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 189
• Page End: 197
• Publication Date: 2014-10-14
• Subjects: Sexual disorders -- Periodicals; Sex -- Periodicals; Sexual health -- Periodicals; 616.69005
• DOI: 10.1111/jsm.12713
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-6095

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jsm12713-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Introduction</title> <p>Women at high risk for ovarian cancer due to <italic>BRCA</italic><italic>1 or</italic> <italic>BRCA</italic><italic>2</italic> mutation or family history are recommended to undergo risk‐reducing salpingo‐oophorectomy (RRSO) after age 35 or completion of childbearing. This potentially life‐saving surgery leads to premature menopause, frequently resulting in distressing and unaddressed sexual dysfunction.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12713-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To pilot a novel sexual health intervention for women with <italic>BRCA</italic><italic>1/2</italic> mutations who previously underwent RRSO a using a single‐arm trial. Feasibility and primary outcomes including sexual dysfunction and psychological distress were assessed.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12713-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>This single‐arm trial included a one‐time, half‐day educational session comprised of targeted sexual health education, body awareness and relaxation training, and mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy strategies, followed by two sessions of tailored telephone counseling. Assessments were completed at baseline and 2 months postintervention.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12713-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Main Outcome Measure</title> <p>Study end points include feasibility and effectiveness as reported by the participant.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12713-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Thirty‐seven women completed baseline and postintervention assessments. At baseline, participants had a mean age of 44.4 (standard deviation [SD] = 3.9) years and mean duration of 3.8 (SD = 2.7) years since RRSO. Overall sexual functioning (<italic>P</italic> = 0.018), as well as desire (<italic>P</italic> = 0.003), arousal (<italic>P</italic> = 0.003), satisfaction (<italic>P</italic> = 0.028), and pain (<italic>P</italic> = 0.018), improved significantly. There were significant reductions in somatization (<italic>P</italic> = 0.029) and anxiety scores (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001), and, overall, for the Global Severity Index (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) of the Brief Symptom Inventory. Sexual self‐efficacy and sexual knowledge also improved significantly from baseline to postintervention (both <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). Women were highly satisfied with the intervention content and reported utilizing new skills to manage sexual dysfunction.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12713-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>This intervention integrates elements of cognitive behavioral therapy with sexual health education to address a much‐neglected problem after RRSO. Results from this promising single‐arm study provide preliminary data to move toward conducting a randomized, controlled trial. <bold>Bober SL, Recklitis CJ, Bakan J, Garber JE, and Patenaude AF. Addressing sexual dysfunction after risk‐reducing salpingo‐oophorectomy: Effects of a brief, psychosexual intervention. J Sex Med 2015;12:189–197.</bold></p> </sec> </abstract>