This paper is published in Volume-5, Issue-3, 2019
Area
Occupational Therapy
Author
Dr. Manjusha Vagal, Dr. Amitabh Dwivedi
Org/Univ
Tata Memmorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Pub. Date
15 May, 2019
Paper ID
V5I3-1379
Publisher
Keywords
Cervical cancer, Vaginal stenosis, Vaginal dilation, sexual counselling

Citationsacebook

IEEE
Dr. Manjusha Vagal, Dr. Amitabh Dwivedi. Therapeutic strategies for vaginal and sexual health promotion in cervical cancer survivors: An overview of practice at the Tertiary Cancer Hospital in Mumbai, International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology, www.IJARIIT.com.

APA
Dr. Manjusha Vagal, Dr. Amitabh Dwivedi (2019). Therapeutic strategies for vaginal and sexual health promotion in cervical cancer survivors: An overview of practice at the Tertiary Cancer Hospital in Mumbai. International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology, 5(3) www.IJARIIT.com.

MLA
Dr. Manjusha Vagal, Dr. Amitabh Dwivedi. "Therapeutic strategies for vaginal and sexual health promotion in cervical cancer survivors: An overview of practice at the Tertiary Cancer Hospital in Mumbai." International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology 5.3 (2019). www.IJARIIT.com.

Abstract

Cervical cancer survivors treated with radiotherapy alone or as a part of combined therapy have reported higher occurrence of vaginal morbidity. Vaginal stenosis and dryness are the common vaginal symptoms which tend to persist following radiotherapy treatment. Vaginal dilation with dilator and sexual counselling is routine practice to preserve vaginal patency and to facilitate sexual functioning and gynaecological surveillance. A retrospective review of case files of cervical cancer patients referred for vaginal dilation to Occupational therapy during 2002-2010 was carried out with the aim to understand the therapeutic strategies practiced for improving vaginal and sexual health following pelvic radiotherapy at the tertiary cancer hospital in Mumbai. Data of 183 cervical cancer patients which met the study criteria, was collected with reference to the stage of the disease, treatment received, details about vaginal dilation following radiotherapy, and sexual status and side effects related to dilation. Review found that vaginal dilation with dilator was routinely recommended to cervical cancer patients following completion of radiotherapy. Resumption of sexual intercourse and sexual counselling was provided to married patients for prevention of vaginal stenosis and preserving sexual functions. Documentation on the content of sexual counselling and the time spent on counselling was found absent. This review of case files found vaginal dilation with dilator post pelvic radiotherapy is effective in preventing vaginal stenosis and sexual intercourse cannot be used as a sole medium of dilation. Dilation with dilator improved vaginal length from 8.02 cm+ 2.9 to 9.96+ 2.89cm with the p value <0.001. ords.