Sexual dysfunction outcomes and reporting disparities after multimodal treatment for rectal cancer: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.

In 30 seconds

This systematic review evaluated sexual dysfunction outcomes after rectal cancer treatment, highlighting significant reporting disparities between sexes. Analyzing 25 studies with 4,071 patients, it found that sexual outcomes were predominantly reported for men, with only eight studies providing comprehensive data for both sexes. Female sexual dysfunction was notably under-represented.

Key findings

• 65.8% of participants were male, with only 34.2% female representation.
• Only eight studies reported both total and domain-level sexual function results.
• Five studies limited sexual outcome assessment to men, neglecting female perspectives.
• Key contextual variables like sexual activity and menopausal status were rarely captured.

Why it matters

Understanding sexual dysfunction post-rectal cancer treatment is crucial for comprehensive patient care. The disparities in reporting can lead to inadequate support and management for female patients, highlighting the need for more inclusive research practices.