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Exploring the role of the partner in couples’ sexual recovery after surgery for prostate cancer

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Abstract

Background

Prostate cancer survivors’ post-surgery sexual problems are well documented and long lasting. Partners’ distress in this context leads to psychological morbidity which is poorly understood. Given the prevalence of prostate cancer diagnoses in older men, partners’ distress represents a public health concern. This study elucidates an important aspect of partners’ distress which has hitherto been undocumented. It can lead to further research and health-care provisions that will support couples in prostate cancer survivorship towards improved mental health and health outcomes.

Purpose

Partner sexual function has been viewed as a factor in men’s erectile function recovery after prostatectomy for prostate cancer. However, patients’ and partners’ perceptions on the role of the partner in couples’ sexual recovery has not been studied. We wanted to understand those perceptions and to see whether their perceptions were congruent.

Methods

Men and partners were recruited from a previous study and interviewed separately about the role of the partner. Interview transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory with the help of NVivo software.

Results

Ten men and nine partners participated; most were more than 1 year past surgery. Men were 62, and partners were 58 years old on average. Nine men had erectile dysfunction. Six female partners were post-menopausal, and a participating male partner had post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction. Men and partners agreed that partners provide emotional and logistical support. Both perceived the partner’s own sexual interest, not function, as critical to the couple’s sexual recovery. Some men felt pressured by partners’ initiative, feeling insecure about sexual performance. Men were unaware of partners’ sexual needs or needs for support. Partners expressed those needs but were unsure of what kind of support they needed.

Conclusion

Partners’ sexual and support needs during couples’ sexual recovery after prostatectomy should be acknowledged and addressed as a legitimate aspect of research and care for men recovering from prostatectomy.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Healthcare Research (MICHR) Pilot and Collaborative Grant Program UL1RR024986 and by the American Cancer Society Doctoral Training Grant in Social Work DSW-10-098-023-SW.

Conflict of interest

The authors do not have a financial relationship with these entities. The authors have full control of the data, and the dataset is available for review if needed. Daniela Wittmann owns $4,000 in Pfizer stock. James Montie is on the Advisory Board of Histosonics, Inc. Ted Skolarus is a paid consultant for ArborMetrix, Inc., for work related to patient-centered communication tools.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex Building 16, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2800, USA

    Daniela Wittmann, Ted A. Skolarus, Ganesh Palapattu & James E. Montie

  2. School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Daniela Wittmann

  3. Department of Human Development and Family Study, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Marsha Carolan

  4. College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Barbara Given

  5. Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Lawrence An

  6. VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, HSRD Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Ted A. Skolarus

Authors
  1. Daniela Wittmann
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  2. Marsha Carolan
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  3. Barbara Given
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  4. Ted A. Skolarus
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  5. Lawrence An
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  6. Ganesh Palapattu
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  7. James E. Montie
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniela Wittmann.

Additional information

The study was approved by the University of Michigan Institutional Review Board, and all participants signed an informed consent.

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Wittmann, D., Carolan, M., Given, B. et al. Exploring the role of the partner in couples’ sexual recovery after surgery for prostate cancer. Support Care Cancer 22, 2509–2515 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2244-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2244-x

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