Changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women with breast cancer: a qualitative study

Maryam Maleki; Abbas Mardani; Mansour Ghafourifard; Mojtaba Vaismoradi

doi:10.1186/s12905-022-01906-8

Changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women with breast cancer: a qualitative study

Maryam Maleki, Abbas Mardani, Mansour Ghafourifard, Mojtaba Vaismoradi

Dentistry and Medical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

40 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) in women can bring various problems to their marital and family life. Sexual life based on the experiences of the husbands of women diagnosed with BC has not been fully understood. Therefore, this research aimed to explore changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women diagnosed with BC.
METHODS: A qualitative research was carried out on 18 men whose wives had been diagnosed with BC at reproductive age. They were selected using purposeful sampling and were interviewed using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Collected data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method.
RESULTS: 'Sexual life suspension' was the main theme of this research. Also, 'unfulfilled sexual expectations', 'perceived barriers to satisfy sexual expectations', and 'efforts to adapt to sexual problems' were subthemes.
CONCLUSIONS: The husbands of women with BC need support to improve their sexual and marital relationships. Education and counseling about sexual life during the treatment of BC should be incorporated into the healthcare program.

Original language	English
Article number	326
Pages (from-to)	1-11
Number of pages	11
Journal	BMC Women's Health
Volume	22
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01906-8 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01906-8
Publication status	Published - 02 Aug 2022

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abstract = "BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) in women can bring various problems to their marital and family life. Sexual life based on the experiences of the husbands of women diagnosed with BC has not been fully understood. Therefore, this research aimed to explore changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women diagnosed with BC.METHODS: A qualitative research was carried out on 18 men whose wives had been diagnosed with BC at reproductive age. They were selected using purposeful sampling and were interviewed using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Collected data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method.RESULTS: 'Sexual life suspension' was the main theme of this research. Also, 'unfulfilled sexual expectations', 'perceived barriers to satisfy sexual expectations', and 'efforts to adapt to sexual problems' were subthemes.CONCLUSIONS: The husbands of women with BC need support to improve their sexual and marital relationships. Education and counseling about sexual life during the treatment of BC should be incorporated into the healthcare program.",

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AU - Mardani, Abbas

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AU - Vaismoradi, Mojtaba

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N2 - BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) in women can bring various problems to their marital and family life. Sexual life based on the experiences of the husbands of women diagnosed with BC has not been fully understood. Therefore, this research aimed to explore changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women diagnosed with BC.METHODS: A qualitative research was carried out on 18 men whose wives had been diagnosed with BC at reproductive age. They were selected using purposeful sampling and were interviewed using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Collected data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method.RESULTS: 'Sexual life suspension' was the main theme of this research. Also, 'unfulfilled sexual expectations', 'perceived barriers to satisfy sexual expectations', and 'efforts to adapt to sexual problems' were subthemes.CONCLUSIONS: The husbands of women with BC need support to improve their sexual and marital relationships. Education and counseling about sexual life during the treatment of BC should be incorporated into the healthcare program.

AB - BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) in women can bring various problems to their marital and family life. Sexual life based on the experiences of the husbands of women diagnosed with BC has not been fully understood. Therefore, this research aimed to explore changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women diagnosed with BC.METHODS: A qualitative research was carried out on 18 men whose wives had been diagnosed with BC at reproductive age. They were selected using purposeful sampling and were interviewed using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Collected data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method.RESULTS: 'Sexual life suspension' was the main theme of this research. Also, 'unfulfilled sexual expectations', 'perceived barriers to satisfy sexual expectations', and 'efforts to adapt to sexual problems' were subthemes.CONCLUSIONS: The husbands of women with BC need support to improve their sexual and marital relationships. Education and counseling about sexual life during the treatment of BC should be incorporated into the healthcare program.

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KW - Breast cancer

KW - Marital life

KW - Husband

KW - Men

KW - Sexual life

KW - Quality of care

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Changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women with breast cancer: a qualitative study

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