Sexual health and function among patients receiving systemic therapy for primary gynecologic cancers.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual dysfunction has been reported after gynecologic cancer treatment but few studies have examined sexual function during treatment. Our objectives were to describe sexual function among women receiving systemic therapy for gynecologic cancers and to compare sexual function between women receiving upfront treatment versus treatment for cancer recurrence. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of women 18yo and older receiving systemic therapy for gynecologic cancer in the upfront or recurrent setting. Patients receiving radiation were excluded. Participants completed a survey with questions from the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) SexFS and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Clinical information was collected from chart review. Statistical analysis included t-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Of 145 patients approached, 100 (69%) enrolled and 97 (67%) completed the survey. Median age was 65yo. Most patients had ovarian cancer (58%), then endometrial cancer (34%) and cervical cancer (8%). Fifty-two (54%) were receiving recurrent treatment and 45 (46%) upfront treatment. Thirty-eight (76%) in the recurrent group and 34 (75%) in the upfront group hadn't been sexually active in the last month (p = 1.0); however, 61 (67%) participants reported a desire for future sexual activity. Of the 31 patients who completed all FSFI questions, the median FSFI score was 24.0 and 21 (68%) had sexual dysfunction. Vaginal dryness was more common among patients receiving recurrent treatment (p = 0.09) while a "health condition" was a more common reason for sexual inactivity in the upfront setting (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Many patients receiving systemic therapy for gynecologic cancers are willing to discuss sexual function. Most patients reported sexual dysfunction and weren't currently sexually active. Understanding patients' sexual function concerns will allow providers to intervene.

Sensation of Pain Using Buffered Lidocaine for Infiltration Before Vulvar Biopsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of buffered lidocaine on pain scores during vulvar biopsy. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, using prefilled, sequentially numbered, randomized syringes to infiltrate either 3 mL of buffered or nonbuffered lidocaine before vulvar biopsy. The primary outcome was a pain score marked on a 100-mm visual analog scale during infiltration. Secondary outcomes included pain scores after the procedure and change from baseline to infiltration. Participants were recruited to detect a clinically meaningful 15-mm difference in pain scores between groups. Sample size was calculated based on the null hypothesis that the mean pain score would be the same in women treated with buffered lidocaine as in those treated with nonbuffered placebo based on prior studies. Categorical data were compared by Fisher exact test, and continuous data were compared between groups by t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: From July 2015 to April 2018, 129 participants were randomized to one of two groups: nonbuffered lidocaine or buffered lidocaine. One hundred twenty-five were analyzed (nonbuffered n=62, buffered n=63). Four patients were excluded. The majority of participants were non-Hispanic white women with a mean age of 59 years. There was no difference in the primary outcome of pain during infiltration with a mean pain score of 35.8 mm in the buffered lidocaine group compared with 42.2 in the nonbuffered lidocaine group (mean difference -6.4; 95% CI -18.4 to 5.6; P=.3 by Wilcoxon rank sum test). There was also no difference in secondary outcomes of pain over the entire procedure (mean difference -0.3, 95% CI -9.7 to 9.2; P=.7) or change in pain from baseline to infiltration (mean difference -6.9, 95% CI -18.4 to 4.7; P=.2). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in pain scores during vulvar biopsy infiltration between the buffered and nonbuffered lidocaine groups. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02698527.