"Sexual sacrifice": a qualitative exploration of husbands' experience of living with survivors of breast cancer-sexual dysfunction in Malaysia.
Breast cancer
Coping
Husband
Sexual dysfunction
Sexuality
Journal
Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
ISSN: 1433-7339
Titre abrégé: Support Care Cancer
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 9302957
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
20 Jul 2024
20 Jul 2024
Historique:
received:
30
01
2024
accepted:
15
07
2024
medline:
20
7
2024
pubmed:
20
7
2024
entrez:
20
7
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Experiencing sexual dysfunction (SD) alongside a breast cancer (BC) diagnosis has significant consequences, not only for wives but also for their husbands. Therefore, we explored husbands' perspectives on sexuality and their encounters in dealing with wives' SD following a BC diagnosis. This qualitative study, conducted within the phenomenological framework, focused on sexually active husbands whose wives faced SD after being diagnosed with BC in Kelantan. Husbands with an International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score above 11, indicating the absence of erectile dysfunction, were invited to participate in in-depth interviews conducted between September 2019 and March 2021. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, and the transcriptions were then managed and analyzed using the NVivo® analytic computer software. Thematic analyses were performed, taking into account the meaning-making theory. To grasp husbands' experiences, three themes emerged. "Sex, a calming act," delves into their understanding of sexuality and its impact severity. "Distressing sequelae yet provide better tolerance" underscores that husbands experienced adverse consequences due to their wives' imperfections and sexual challenges, but they exhibited improved tolerance in dealing with these difficulties. Lastly, "Improving lives with multiple strategies" highlights how husbands sought alternative activities in response. This study illuminates the experiences of husbands coping with their wives' SD following a BC diagnosis. Husbands had to reconsider their understanding of sexuality and sexual needs and employed various response and coping strategies. These strategies included emphasizing influences of culture (husbands' roles and rights), religious beliefs, and self-distraction, redirecting the focus to health concerns, and engaging in alternative activities.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39031298
doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08741-7
pii: 10.1007/s00520-024-08741-7
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
531Subventions
Organisme : Universiti Sains Malaysia with Research University Grants and Graduate Study Development Incentive Fund (TIPPS).
ID : 1001/PPSP/8012284
Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
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