Background: Sexual dysfunction is common in postoperative breast cancer patients, which seriously affects the quality of life of the patients, especially young patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors of sexual dysfunction in young breast cancer survivors, so as to provide evidence for further intervention.
Methods: A total of 201 young breast cancer patients who were hospitalized in our department from October 2017 to October 2018 were retrospectively enrolled. The general information questionnaire and the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire were used to evaluate the patients.
Results: Of these patients, 83.08% (167/201) of young breast cancer patients had sexual dysfunction. Total mastectomy (OR value single factor =7.843, OR value multiple factor =6.815), chemotherapy (OR value single factor =11.876, OR value multiple factor =38.711), and endocrine therapy (OR value single factor =19.688, OR value multiple factor =46.251) were independent risk factors of sexual dysfunction in young breast cancer survivors (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Our study suggests that the incidence of sexual dysfunction in young breast cancer survivors is at a high level. Increasing the rate of breast conserving surgery and targeted intervention in patients with risk factors may help to reduce the incidence of sexual dysfunction and improve the quality of life in young breast cancer survivors.
Keywords: Youth; breast cancer; risk factors; sexual dysfunction.