MP45-10 UNDERSTANDING THE SEXUAL HEALTH CONCERNS AND NEEDS OF FEMALE PARTNERS OF PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVORS
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:
Prostate cancer (PCa) and its treatments can have a significant negative impact on the sexual health of survivors and couples, but few studies have examined the impact of PCa-related sexual dysfunction on female partners of survivors. Our objective was to perform a qualitative study to characterize female partners’ sexual health concerns and unmet needs.
METHODS:
We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews about sexual health concerns and unmet needs among female partners of PCa survivors. Participants were recruited from multiple clinic locations and the USToo Forum for Her support group for PCa caregivers from September 2021 to March 2022. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants were recruited until thematic saturation was achieved.
RESULTS:
Among 12 participants, the median age was 65 years (range 53-81), 9 were white, the median time since their partner’s PCa diagnosis was 2.25 years (range 11 months-20 years). Overall, 8 participants reported that their partner had undergone radical prostatectomy, 7 radiation therapy, and 7 hormonal therapy. Major emergent themes pertained to the impact of age- and PCa-related sexual losses on female sexual quality of life, the dyadic nature of sexual dysfunction and recovery, the role of the partner in coping with and adjusting to PCa-related sexual dysfunction, difficulties communicating about sexual dysfunction within a couple, a lack of provider-led sexual health counseling and support, and the benefit of peer interactions and information-seeking in addressing unmet sexual health needs.
CONCLUSIONS:
To our knowledge, this is the first study using in-depth interviews focused on female partners’ sexual health concerns both related to and independent of PCa survivor sexual health. We found that female partners experience PCa-related sexual dysfunction as a couple’s disease, grieve age- and PCa-related sexual losses, and desire provider-led sexual health counseling and information. Future efforts should continue to explore the impact of PCa on partner sexual health and address unmet needs.
Source of Funding:
This study was supported by an Idea Development Award from the Department of Defense (W81XWH2010380) and the Edward Blank and Sharon Cosloy-Blank Family Foundation. NG is supported by grant 5T32HS026120-04 from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the NYU Clinical and Translational Science Institute grant 5UL1TR001445. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Agency
