Ovarian function suppression (OFS) treatment induces sudden menopause in women with breast cancer, leading to severe sexual issues. While overall sexual health research is limited, evidence specific to OFS-treated women is even scarcer. We aim to compare the symptom burden and interpersonal relationships of sexually active (SAW) and inactive women (SIW). A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to July 2024. Participants completed questionnaires including demographic/clinical data and scales assessing symptom burden, social support, and social alienation. Convenience sampling included 1134 OFS women (SIW, n = 339; SAW, n = 795). Before and after overlap weighting (OW), SIW is consistently associated with higher overall symptom burden; post-OW, it correlates only with phase-specific poorer social attributes. Initially, a lower ‘lost interest in sex’ burden correlates with SIW, but this relationship reverses after adjustment. Following OW, anxiety (OR 6.32, 95%CI 1.33-29.97), mood swings (OR 3.84, 95% CI 1.05–14.12), and depression (OR 2.39, 95%CI 1.00-5.69) show the highest odds of occurrence in SIW vs. SAW. Relative to “Independent & Balanced”, married SIW treated for 1-3 months align with “Isolated & Overburdened”. Conversely, SAW profiles vary: married women treated for 3-5 years belong to “Selective Sexual Burden,” married women belong to the “Latently Stressed”, while those treated for 1-3 months fall into “Vaginal Symptom-Focused” or “Multi-System Diffuse Distress”. Sex life is associated with OFS women’s physical, mental, and interpersonal burdens. We identified SIW/SAW phenotyping categories with different symptom and interpersonal burdens and women with different social support sensitivities, providing a theoretical basis for future interventions. People living with breast cancer who are treated with drugs that influence the function of the ovaries may experience physical and mental changes. We aimed to assess these changes and their association with sexual activity. We identify potential categories of sexually active or inactive women based on their physical and mental health and their social relationships. We found that sexual inactivity was associated with a higher overall symptom burden and worse relationships among women with breast cancer. Thus, addressing symptom burden represents a potential pathway to improve sexual health. At the same time, providing targeted support based on differing types of symptom burden and social support may optimize the utilization of medical resources and outcomes. Li, Chen et al. examine links between symptom burden, social relationships, and sexual activity in women with breast cancer. Sexual inactivity is associated with higher symptom burden, however, differences emerge in specific phases of relationships.
Li et al. (2026) studied this question.