2Department of Women\'s Health and Illness Nursing İstanbul University Florance Nightingel Nursing Faculty, İstanbul-Türkiye DOI : 10.5505/tjo.2016.1472 OBJECTIVE
Study was designed to assess the sexual experience, thoughts, and problems of women who were treated with pelvic radiotherapy due to cervical cancer.
METHODS
Twenty-six sexually active patients with the history of a minimum three-month interval of pelvic radiotherapy between March 20 ? June 20, 2014, for routine follow ups and gave consent for trial were enrolled to the study.Sexual life before cancer, diagnosis, and treatment period and its effect on sexual life were assessed with semi-configurated score scale created by researcher group.
RESULTS
The main themes were postcoital and postmenopausal bleeding as a diagnosis finding, vaginal stricture, vaginal dryness, decreased sexual desire either in partners and in patients as main sexual problems.
CONCLUSION
Health caregivers should be aware of this situation and should encourage to express their problems and should present individual, effective consultancy to each patient.
Keywords : Cervical canser; pelvic radiotherapy; sexual life