Quality of life and psychosexual adjustment after prophylactic oophorectomy for a family history of ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVES

1) To evaluate a woman's satisfaction with the decision to have a prophylactic oophorectomy for family history of ovarian cancer. 2) To explore the potential costs related to surgery such a menopausal symptoms and satisfaction with sexual functioning.

METHODS

Women who had undergone a prophylactic oophorectomy for a family history of ovarian cancer in Ontario were invited to participate. Forty women returned a package of questionnaires addressing demographic information, family history, decisional conflict, risk comprehension, menopause-specific quality of life, satisfaction with sexual function, and other psychosocial questionnaires.

RESULTS

The mean age of respondents was 54.8 years. Perceived risk for developing ovarian cancer decreased significantly after surgery (p = 0.0001). Overall quality of life on the SF-36 Health Survey demonstrated a level consistent with emotional and physical wellbeing in the general population. The Menopause-Specific Quality of Life scores were reduced compared to women of similar age on all parameters: vasomotor symptoms, psychosocial support, physical status and sexual quality of life. Satisfaction with sexual functioning was moderately to extremely compromised in 42.1%-53.7% of women.

CONCLUSION

While this study shows that women who choose to have prophylactic oophorectomy for a family history of ovarian cancer have a good overall quality of life and significant decrease in risk perception as a result of surgery, they experience menopausal symptoms and compromised sexual functioning.