A longitudinal study of sexual activity and influencing factors in breast cancer patients during treatment in the Southwest of China: a trajectory analysis model

TL;DR

This study tracks sexual activity in breast cancer patients during treatment in China and finds that older age and higher libido are linked to better sexual activity outcomes.

Contribution

The study introduces a trajectory analysis model to identify distinct patterns of sexual activity changes in breast cancer patients.

Findings

Sexual activity dropped sharply after diagnosis but improved over time.

Older age, higher libido, and vaginal lubrication were positively associated with sexual activity.

Two distinct sexual activity trajectory groups were identified: low and high activity.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the longitudinal developmental trajectories and its influencing factors of sexual activity in patients with breast cancer during treatment.

A prospective longitudinal study was conducted, including 225 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in A tumor specialty three-class hospital in Southwest China. We measured sexual activity at the time of admission and diagnosis (T0) and one month (T1), three months (T2), six months (T3), and nine months (T4) after diagnosis. A trajectory analysis model (GBTM) was used to explore the changes in sexual activity in breast cancer patients. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the factors that affected the classification of sexual activity trajectories.

The ratio of sexual activity abruptly declined from 100% at baseline to 39.1% at T1. The percentage of sexual activity was improved, from 51.4% at T2 to 63.1% at T4. The optimal model was a 2-group trajectory of sexual activity in breast cancer patients,36.6% in the “low activity group” and 63.4% in the “high activity group.” The multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed statistically significant and positive correlations between sexual activity and age (β = 0.085, OR = 1.089, 95%CI 1.035 ∼ 1.145, P = 0.001),libido(β = 0.774, OR = 2.168, 95%CI 1.337 ∼ 3.515, P = 0.002), vaginal lubrication(β = 1.254, OR = 33.503, 95%CI 2.000 ∼ 6.137, P<0.001).

Breast cancer patients exhibited varying levels of sexual activity during treatment; higher age was associated with increased sexual activity, which can contribute to the recovery of sexual function. Therefore, it is crucial to provide appropriate guidance on sexual health for younger patients.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12905-024-03150-8.

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