Identification of the Most Suitable Questionnaire to Assess the Sexual Function of Women Living in France After Colorectal Cancer Surgery

Quality of life (QoL) is often impaired in the aftermath of rectal cancer management due to impaired rectal function and the impact of surgery and radiation therapy on pelvic innervation and the genitourinary sphere. Female sexual function is rarely mentioned by caregivers during follow-up consultations, even though it is a source of significant alteration in the quality of life. Assessment of sexual function is based on self-assessment questionnaires. Most of them were written in English and correspond to the Anglo-Saxon culture. Four questionnaires were translated and validated in French: FSFI, PISQ-IR, PISQ-12, BISF. Two are general sexual HRQOL questionnaires, 2 are sexual HRQOL questionnaires developed for women with genitourinary prolapse.

The identification of the acceptable questionnaire adapted to women living in France will be done through a randomized double-blind study. The duration of patient participation will be 6 months, corresponding to the period of inclusion, collection of informed consent, sending of the questionnaire bundles and collection of the bundles.

Inclusion criteria

• female
• over 18 years of age
• who have signed the informed consent to participate in the study
• having had rectal or recto-sigmoid cancer at least one year before, whatever the stage, treated by rectal or recto-sigmoid resection with sphincter preservation
• in the course of an eventual adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy or radiotherapy)
• affiliated to the social security system of the health insurance, whatever the system

Exclusion criteria

• colon cancer
• pelvic radiotherapy for a pathology other than colorectal cancer
• rectal resection without restoration of continuity (Hartmann or abdominal-perineal amputation)
• peritoneal carcinosis
• colorectal resection for benign lesion
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• emergency surgery