Effect of Tamoxifen on Sexual Functioning in Patients With Breast Cancer

• Published in: Journal of clinical oncology Vol. 17; no. 5; pp. 1488 - 1492
• Main Authors: MORTIMER, J. E, BOUCHER, L, BATY, J, KNAPP, D. L, RYAN, E, ROWLAND, J. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Baltimore, MD American Society of Clinical Oncology 01.05.1999; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Female; Humans; Libido - drug effects; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mucous Membrane - drug effects; Orgasm - drug effects; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pilot Projects; Tamoxifen - pharmacology; Toxicity: urogenital system; Vagina - drug effects; Antineoplastic agent; Human; Toxicity; Antiestrogen; Antihormone; Malignant tumor; Tamoxifene; Mammary gland diseases; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Dysfunction; Complication; Mammary gland; Non steroid compound; Sexual function
• ISSN: 0732-183X; 1527-7755
• DOI: 10.1200/jco.1999.17.5.1488

To define the incidence of sexual dysfunction in a population of women with breast cancer treated with tamoxifen. Breast cancer patients with a performance status of 0 to 2 who had been treated with tamoxifen for 2 to 24 months completed the following measures: the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, the Sexual History Form, and the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Checklist. Forty-nine of the participants underwent gynecologic examinations with vaginal smears for determination of estrogen effect. Fifty-seven women were entered onto the trial. Sexual desire, arousal, and ability to achieve orgasm were comparable to norms established in participants in the Tamoxifen Prevention Trial (National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project P-01). Pain, burning, or discomfort with intercourse was reported in 54% of patients and did not correlate with age, surgical treatment of the primary cancer, or chemotherapy. Estrogen effect was seen on the vaginal smears of 34 of 49 participants and was more common in older patients (P = .054). The presence of estrogen effect correlated with negative reactions during sex (P = .02) and vaginal dryness or tightness (P = .046). Women treated with tamoxifen in the adjuvant setting experienced symptoms of sexual dysfunction. The individual contributions of chemotherapy and tamoxifen to sexual dysfunction warrant prospective study.