0 (ref.)   Employed 1.03 (0.36-2.91) 0.94 1.55 (0.38-6.27) 0.53 Surgery         Conservative 1.0 (ref.)   1.0 (ref.)   Mastectomy 1.30 (0.55-3.05) 0.54 1.07 (0.36-3.22) 0.89 Chemotherapy         No 1.0 (ref.   1.0 (ref.)   Yes 1.88 (1.10-6.24) 0.03 1.34 (0.25-7.31) 0.73 Radiotherapy         No 1.0 (ref.) selleck   1.0 (ref.)   Yes 1.88 (0.73-4.84) 0.18 2.30 (0.57-9.31) 0.24 Endocrine therapy         No 1.0 (ref.)   1.0 (ref.)   Yes 3.36 (1.57-7.22) 0.002 3.34 (1.38-8.06) 0.007 Pre-treatment sexual dysfunction         No 1.0 (ref.)   1.0 (ref.)   Yes 11.1 (3.78-33.1) < 0.0001 12.3 (3.93-39.0) < 0.0001 Time interval between pre-and

post-treatment evaluations (months) – - 1.10 (0.33-3.63) 0.21 * Obtained from univariate logistic regression analysis ** Obtained from multiple logistic regression analysis (adjusted odds ratio) Discussion The findings from this prospective study indicated that the prevalence of sexual

dysfunction among Iranian breast cancer patients was relatively high. The findings also indicated that younger age, receiving endocrine therapy and pre-treatment sexual dysfunction were independent and significant contributing variables to post-treatment sexual disorders. It is well documented that endocrine learn more effects of adjuvant therapy, especially chemotherapy, in younger survivors causes premature menopause that is associated with poorer quality of life, decreased www.selleckchem.com/products/a-1210477.html sexual functioning, menopausal symptom distress, and psychosocial distress related to infertility [17], although it is believed that as a whole http://www.selleck.co.jp/products/Verteporfin(Visudyne).html adjuvant endocrine therapy or radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer do not causes premature menopause. As noted by Cella and Fallowfield [18], recognition and management of treatment-related side-effects for breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy is an important issue since such side-effects negatively affect sexual functioning, health-related quality of life and adherence to therapy. They argue that adverse events across all

adjuvant endocrine trials regardless of the treatment, vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes are the most common side effects. Other frequently reported side-effects such as vaginal discharge, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and arthralgia vary in prevalence between tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors [18]. Although there were significant decreases in all measures at post-treatment assessment compared to pre-treatment evaluation, greater decrease was observed for sexual desire (3.8 vs. 2.8) and lubrication (5.3 vs. 4.3). Perhaps these are very important aspect of sexual life for women and should receive further attention when studying sexual issues in breast cancer patients. It has been shown that sexual desire and lubrication are two important affecting factors in breast cancer survivors after mastectomy [19].