Fallowfield, Lesley, Solis-Trapala, Ivonne, Menon, Usha, Langridge, Carolyn, May, Shirley, Jacobs, Ian and Jenkins, Valerie (2017) The effect of ovarian cancer screening on sexual activity and functioning: results from the UK collaborative trial of ovarian cancer screening RCT. British Journal of Cancer, 116 (8). pp. 1111-1117. ISSN 0007-0920

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Abstract

Background: To examine the impact of multimodal (MMS) and ultrasound (USS) screening on the sexual activity and functioning of 22,966 women in the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS) RCT.

Methods: Fallowfield’s Sexual Activity Questionnaire (FSAQ) was completed prior to randomisation, then annually in a random sample (RS) of women from MMS, USS and control groups. Any women in the study who required repeat screening due to unsatisfactory results formed an Events Sample (ES); they completed questionnaires following an event and annually thereafter.

Results: Over time in the RS (n=1,339) there was no difference between the MMS and USS groups in sexual activity compared with controls. In the ES there were significant differences between the USS group (n=10,156) and the MMS group (n=12,810). The USS group had lower pleasure scores (mean difference = -0.14, P=0.046). For both groups women who had ≥2 repeat screens, showed a decrease in mean pleasure scores compared to their annual scores (mean difference = -0.16, P=0.005). Similarly mean pleasure scores decreased following more intensive screens compared to annual screening (mean difference= -0.09, P=0.046).

Conclusion: Ovarian cancer screening did not affect sexual activity and functioning unless a woman had abnormal results and underwent repeated or higher level screening.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	Brighton and Sussex Medical School > Sussex Health Outcomes Research & Education in Cancer (SHORE-C)
Research Centres and Groups:	Sussex Health Outcomes Research and Education in Cancer
Depositing User:	Valerie Jenkins
Date Deposited:	28 Mar 2017 08:22
Last Modified:	10 Aug 2020 13:47
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/67191

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