Background: Previous studies have suggested that sexuality following surgery for rectal cancer is better in women than in men and differs with type of surgery in terms of impact on Quality of Life. However, the findings were inconsistent. The aim of the presented study was to address these issues.
Methods: 570 patients that had undergone surgery for rectal cancer in our department from 1992 to 1999 were included. After determination of survival status questionnaires on Quality of Life were sent to 370 patients one to two years post surgery. We analysed data from 215 patients of which 103 were female and 112 male. 248 patients died during the time observed. Statistical analysis was done with descriptive methods, Kaplan-Meier analysis (log rank test), T-test and analysis of variance using SPSS 11.0 for Windows.
Results: Significant differences were seen in symptom scales between men and women. Women scored higher for distress through medical treatment and had higher values for insomnia, fatigue and constipation. Both sexes had impaired sexual life but men had significantly higher values and felt more distressed by the impairment of sexuality than women. For patients receiving abdominoperineal resection sexuality was most impaired. Anterior resection with pouch had a detrimental effect on diarrhoea and treatment strain.
Conclusion: The study showed that sexuality is influenced by gender and type of surgery and impacts Quality of Life after surgery for rectal cancer. Assessing quality of life with generic and specific instruments is helpful to determine differences between surgical procedures, age, gender, and adjuvant therapy where standard parameters such as survival have their limitations.