The Effect of Stoma on Relationship and Sexual Life

OBJECTIVES: Patients with a stoma often experience lower self-esteem and possible sexual-related problems. Our aim was to assess the concerns and challenges related to intimate situations among stoma patients.

METHODS: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted between June and October 2023. Stoma patients aged 18 or older were selected with a non-probability convenience and snowball methods (N=119). Those with chronic sexual disorders and incompletely filled out questionnaires were excluded. Data collection was performed using a self-administered questionnaire; the SF-36 for measuring quality of life (QoL) and the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale for detecting sexual dysfunction(s) were applied. Descriptive and mathematical statistics (χ²-test, t-test, Fisher test) were used to calculate results, using Excel and SPSS 28.0 software (p≤0.05).

RESULTS: No significant difference was found between marital status and self-acceptance (p=0.807). Only a small decrease in sexual desire after surgery was observed in both genders (p=0.049). Significantly fewer aged 45-82 engaged in sexual activity after surgery compared to those aged 18-44 (p=0.048). Patients with no sexual dysfunction showed better QoL in the mental health dimension (p=0.027), as well as in the social functioning subcategories of the SF-36 (p=0.014).

CONCLUSIONS: More than half of our sample suffers from sexual dysfunctions, a significant part of which is of psychological origin. We encourage the inclusion of intimacy as part of the informational discussion and providing psychological support in the case of elective surgery.