Sexual dysfunction in lymphoma survivors: a scoping review

BACKGROUND: Lymphoma and cancer-related treatment can cause many complications, including sexual dysfunction, a common symptom experienced by lymphoma survivors during the disease trajectory and survivorship. AIMS: A scoping review was performed to determine the current state of knowledge about sexual dysfunction in lymphoma survivors and identify knowledge gaps and implications for future research. METHODS: PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and PsycINFO were searched to identify all primary peer-reviewed research articles published in the English language that were pertinent to sexual dysfunction in lymphoma survivors. The framework of Arksey and O'Malley and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist were used to assess and synthesize the available evidence on sexual dysfunction in lymphoma survivors. OUTCOMES: This review provided supportive evidence that sexual function in lymphoma survivors is a major ongoing area of concern. RESULTS: Thirty eligible articles published from 1979 to 2023 were appraised in this review. Most of the studies (73.33%) used a cross-sectional design. Using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies, more than half of the publications (53.33%) achieved a C quality ranking. The reviewed studies revealed that sexual dysfunction was a prevalent symptom experienced by lymphoma survivors, with predictors such as age, gender, sex hormones, stage of disease, and types of cancer treatment. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Healthcare providers need to consistently perform routine assessment of sexual function and provide adequate treatment options. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The reviewed studies document the problem of sexual dysfunction and offer potential areas of improvement for clinical practice. However, in the majority of the studies, longitudinal data were not obtained which could provide valuable insights on sexual functioning in lymphoma survivors. CONCLUSION: Despite many years of research on sexual function in lymphoma survivors, substantial gaps in knowledge regarding sexual issues in this population remain. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Healthcare providers should routinely assess sexual function of survivors and provide treatment options. Psychosexual interventions should be tailored for the needs of cancer survivors. Sexual function education is essential for all oncologists and should be included in the care pathway from diagnosis until survivorship.