Sexual health in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

• Published in: Cancer 2015-12, Vol.121 (23), p.4124-4131
• Main Authors: Li, Zhuoyan, Mewawalla, Prerna, Stratton, Pamela, Yong, Agnes S.M., Shaw, Bronwen E., Hashmi, Shahrukh, Jagasia, Madan, Mohty, Mohamad, Majhail, Navneet S., Savani, Bipin N., Rovó, Alicia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Disease Management; Female; Graft vs Host Disease - complications; Health Personnel; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation - adverse effects; Humans; late effects; Male; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Quality of Life; Reproductive Health; Risk Factors; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - etiology; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - psychology; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - therapy; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - etiology; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - psychology; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - therapy; sexual health; Spouses - psychology; survivorship; toxicity; transplantation; Transplantation Conditioning - adverse effects
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.29675

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) plays a central role in patients with malignant and, increasingly, nonmalignant conditions. As the number of transplants increases and the survival rate improves, long‐term complications are important to recognize and treat to maintain quality of life. Sexual dysfunction is a commonly described but relatively often underestimated complication after HSCT. Conditioning regimens, generalized or genital graft‐versus‐host disease, medications, and cardiovascular complications as well as psychosocial problems are known to contribute significantly to physical and psychological sexual dysfunction. Moreover, it is often a difficult topic for patients, their significant others, and health care providers to discuss. Early recognition and management of sexual dysfunction after HSCT can lead to improved quality of life and outcomes for patients and their partners. This review focuses on the risk factors for and treatment of sexual dysfunction after transplantation and provides guidance concerning how to approach and manage a patient with sexual dysfunction after HSCT. Cancer 2015;121:4124–4131. © 2015 American Cancer Society. Sexual dysfunction is an often‐described complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation that is difficult for patients and their health care providers to discuss. Through review of the available literature, guidance in the early recognition and management of sexual dysfunction will lead to improved quality of life outcomes.