Prevalence of sexual dysfunction and relationship with tamoxifen among women of reproductive age with breast cancer in Bushehr city

Introduction & aim: Oneof the drugs used in breast cancer is tamoxifen, which reduces sexual pleasure and thus lackof sexual desire.The aim of study was to determine the sexual dysfunction and relationship with tamoxifen among women of reproductive age with breast cancerMethod: The present study is a descriptive-analytic study that was carried out with purposeful sampling of all married and premenopausal women with breast cancer records in the hematologic department of Khalije-Fars Hospital in Bushehr city (n=40)in 2019.Those who were selected should be at least three months after the last chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The data were collected by using the female sexual function index, demographic and medical variables form.Results: Participants reported having had sex at least once every 10months before the disease. All of the patients stated that they had no sexual dysfunction before the disease, but 54.5% had moderate to severe sexual dysfunction. The mean score of sexual dysfunction was not significant in those taking tamoxifen and those who did not consume (t=0.053,P=0.959). There was no significant relationship between the severity of gonadal dysfunction and duration of use of tamoxifen (r=-0.140, P=0.445).There was no statistically significant difference between the mean sex score in those who had one or two breast completely and those who had lumectomy(t = 0.144,P= 0.886).Conclusion: patients with breast cancer, genital impairment increases with pre-diagnosis. In this study, there was not significant relationship between the use of tamoxifen and sexual dysfunction.Studies with more sample size and prospective studies are recommended for further investigation.