Association between sexuality knowledge and sexual dysfunction in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients and their partners

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association of sexual knowledge with sexual desire, sexual activity, and sexual satisfaction in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients and partners, and their willingness to participate in sexual education.

Methods: This is a multi-center survey. Patients were eligible if they had received HSCT. Patients' current sexual partners were invited to the study unless they had limitations on sexual activity. Sexual desire, activity and satisfaction was assessed using the Sexual Activity Questionnaire. Sexual knowledge, experience of information seeking, sexual counseling or education, and willingness of participate in sexual education were assessed using questionnaire.

Results: Of 151 participants, 61.8 % had experience of receiving counseling about their sexual issues after HSCT. Compared to the lower sexual knowledge group, participants with higher sexual knowledge reported to be 1.91 times more sexually active with 3.04 times higher sexual desire. Among the participants, 79.4 % of participants had the willingness to receive sexual education after HSCT and preferred to receive sexual education from sexual education specialists CONCLUSIONS: Higher sexual knowledge was associated with higher sexual desire, sexual activity, and sexual satisfaction.

Practice implications: Sexual education should be provided to patients and their partners after HCST by trained experts for HSCT patient's sexual life.