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Sexual functioning in male survivors of lymphoma: a systematic review

Sexual functioning in male survivors of lymphoma: a systematic review
Sexual functioning in male survivors of lymphoma: a systematic review
Introduction: the lymphomas [Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL)] are among the most common cancers affecting men under 45 years. Survival rates are now excellent, but treatment is associated with a number of side effects including sexual dysfunction with potential implications for compromised QoL (quality of life).

Aims: to address the: (i) prevalence of sexual dysfunction among lymphoma survivors relative to the general population, survivors of other cancers, and in survivors of HL and NHL; and (ii) relationships between sexual functioning and disease and treatment, demographic, and psychological variables.

Methods: inclusion criteria were quantitative studies that focused on adult male survivors of lymphoma, included a comparison group and presented results separately for HL and NHL. Standardized systematic searches were used. Information about design, sample size, age, time since diagnosis, type of treatment, comparison group, measures and findings were extracted from eligible studies.

Results: ten articles met the inclusion criteria, of which nine included patients with HL only, and one included patients with HL or NHL. Sexual function was compromised relative to the general population, better than testicular cancer survivors, and worse than leukaemia survivors. Depression was consistently associated with sexual dysfunction. There was evidence that chemotherapy, relapse, reduced testosterone levels, older age at survey and worse physical QoL were associated with worse sexual function.

Conclusions: conclusions are limited by methodological issues including lack of utilization of standardized measures of sexual function and longitudinal research. Even so, there is evidence of sexual dysfunction among lymphoma survivors. Clinicians need to be sensitive to these issues. Future longitudinal work is necessary to determine the likelihood of recovery.
1743-6095
1833-1841
Arden-Close, Emily
476eebfb-e256-474b-8351-09db1efdeab5
Eiser, Christine
ee840c03-619d-4559-a971-e7a001fe360b
Pacey, Allan
417e31bd-db05-459e-9342-1fa0547cdf18
Arden-Close, Emily
476eebfb-e256-474b-8351-09db1efdeab5
Eiser, Christine
ee840c03-619d-4559-a971-e7a001fe360b
Pacey, Allan
417e31bd-db05-459e-9342-1fa0547cdf18

Arden-Close, Emily, Eiser, Christine and Pacey, Allan (2011) Sexual functioning in male survivors of lymphoma: a systematic review. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 8 (7), 1833-1841. (doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02209.x.).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Introduction: the lymphomas [Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL)] are among the most common cancers affecting men under 45 years. Survival rates are now excellent, but treatment is associated with a number of side effects including sexual dysfunction with potential implications for compromised QoL (quality of life).

Aims: to address the: (i) prevalence of sexual dysfunction among lymphoma survivors relative to the general population, survivors of other cancers, and in survivors of HL and NHL; and (ii) relationships between sexual functioning and disease and treatment, demographic, and psychological variables.

Methods: inclusion criteria were quantitative studies that focused on adult male survivors of lymphoma, included a comparison group and presented results separately for HL and NHL. Standardized systematic searches were used. Information about design, sample size, age, time since diagnosis, type of treatment, comparison group, measures and findings were extracted from eligible studies.

Results: ten articles met the inclusion criteria, of which nine included patients with HL only, and one included patients with HL or NHL. Sexual function was compromised relative to the general population, better than testicular cancer survivors, and worse than leukaemia survivors. Depression was consistently associated with sexual dysfunction. There was evidence that chemotherapy, relapse, reduced testosterone levels, older age at survey and worse physical QoL were associated with worse sexual function.

Conclusions: conclusions are limited by methodological issues including lack of utilization of standardized measures of sexual function and longitudinal research. Even so, there is evidence of sexual dysfunction among lymphoma survivors. Clinicians need to be sensitive to these issues. Future longitudinal work is necessary to determine the likelihood of recovery.

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e-pub ahead of print date: 16 February 2011
Published date: July 2011

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 210297
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/210297
ISSN: 1743-6095
PURE UUID: 0e632d6b-9e48-44ae-b630-01519d033abf

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Date deposited: 08 Feb 2012 11:08
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 04:48

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Contributors

Author: Emily Arden-Close
Author: Christine Eiser
Author: Allan Pacey

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