Sexual functioning of partners of gynaecological oncology patients: A pilot study on involvement, support, sexuality and relationship

Abstract

Abstract In the process of coping with the physical and emotional consequences of gynaecological cancer treatment, the support of loved ones, especially an intimate partner, is of crucial importance. Little is known, however, about the problems these partners have to face during the period of treatment. In this study 16 partners of women treated for gynaecological cancer were interviewed 12 months after treatment about two central themes: ‘involvement and support” and ‘sexuality and relationship”. Because the generalizations to be made from the results of this study are limited, only cautious conclusions can be drawn. With regard to involvement and support, it appeared that many men experienced the process of providing support as a stressful process and had serious doubts about this. With regard to sexuality and relationship, it appeared that these partners had extensive sexual problems, which could not adequately be solved. As a possible explanation for both phenomena, it is hypothesized that the disease and its treatment also pose a crisis for the partner, which leads to a regression towards a more rigid, male-stereotypical way of coping. This means that attention should not only be given to the patient during treatment, but also to her partner and to their patterns of communication.