C024 | SEXUAL FUNCTION IN WOMEN UNDERGOING HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION: RESULTS OF ANOBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background: Impairment of sexual health is a common issue among women who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Despite its importance, sexual health is often under-investigated into post-transplant follow-up programs. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in adult female survivors of allo-HSCT in clinical remission. A secondary objective was to explore the correlations between alterations in sexual function and various clinical and psychological variables. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, single-center observational study involving women aged 18 to 65 years who had undergone HSCT between 2012 and 2022 at AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino. Clinical and psychological data were collected and analyzed in relation to sexual function, assessed using validated questionnaires: the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS). Results: A total of 45 women were enrolled, with a mean age of 48.3 years. Analysis revealed a high prevalence of sexual dysfunction, with 86% of patients scoring below the pathological threshold on the FSFI, and 68.2% reporting significant distress on the FSDS. No significant differences were observed in sexual function outcomes between women with or without a history of GVHD, in those who discontinued immunosoppressive therapy versus not, or according to intensity of conditioning regimens. Conversely, sexual function was significantly correlated with psychological variables: higher levels of anxiety, depression, overall psychological distress, negative body image perception, and low relationship satisfaction were associated with worse sexual outcomes. Conclusions: Sexual dysfunctions are highly prevalent even many years after allo-HSCT. Our findings underscore the predominant role of psychological factors over clinical factors in the development of sexual dysfunction in this patient population. This study suggests that a multidisciplinary approach could substantially improve sexual health outcomes and overall quality of life in women after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.