Dr. Guntupalli’s study was published in Scientific Research
Women that have had cervical cancer, early stage diseases, are premenopausal, and younger than 50 years of age were shown to have the highest risk of dysfunction. Sexual function was measured by the change in the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) evaluated pre-treatment. Patients showed a significant decline in sexual function according to their score post-treatment.
The study did an analysis of women with chemotherapy treatment to look at factors linked with normal sexual function. The considerations included were:
- age
- stage in menopause
- body mass index (BMI)
- cancer diagnosis
- stage of cancer
- type of surgery or radiation used
- status of the disease
- number of chemotherapy regimens
- number of chemotherapy cycles.
This study was also the inspiration for Dr. Guntupalli’s book, co-authored by Maryann Karinch, Sex and Cancer: Love, Intimacy and Romance After Diagnosis.