Sexual dysfunction among long-term survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma

• Published in: Cancer 2024-11
• Main Authors: Hanzlik, Emily, Sabin, Noah D, Yoshida, Tomoko, Delaney, Angela, Xie, Lu, Darji, Himani, Srivastava, Deokumar, Mulrooney, Daniel A, Hudson, Melissa M, Krull, Kevin R, Khan, Raja B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35637

Survival rates from childhood cancer continue to increase, with an ongoing interest in long-term survivorship. Although infertility and gonadal failure are well recognized in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors, sexual dysfunction is less studied. The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in HL survivors with that in matched community controls. Long-term survivors of HL (n = 186; female, 51.61%; mean age at diagnosis. 14.41 years [range, 3.01-22.60 years]; current mean ± standard deviation age, 36.73 ± 7.93 years) and matched community controls (n = 182; female, 50.55%; mean ± standard deviation age, 36.41 ± 9.02 years) completed a comprehensive, in-person clinical assessment, laboratory battery, and the International Index of Erectile Function or the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire. Male survivors had increased levels of erectile dysfunction (18.89% vs. 6.67%; p = .0239) but indicated no difference in sexual desire. Female survivors had a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction compared with female controls (46.88% vs. 15.22%; p