The Body Appreciation and Sexual Quality of Life in Pre - and Postmenopausal Women with Mastectomy

Background: Sexual life and body appreciation are an important yet underreported part of a woman's life who had mastectomy. Unfortunately, there are few studies available about breast cancer patients, who are in a menopausal period or its effects on sexuality and body appreciation. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the body appreciation and sexual quality of women with mastectomy in pre - and postmenopausal period. Design and Methods: This questionnaire-based descriptive study was conducted 300 women in Turkey using structured questionnaires (Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Female (SQLQ-F) and Body Appreciation Scales (BAS). Findings: The SQLQ-F of the women who were in postmenopausal was high, BAS was low. SQLQ-F who had a good marital relationship and whose relationship with husbands were affected in a positive was higher. There was a positive correlation between BAS and SQLQ-F. Practice Implications: The findings emphasized it is necessary to provide a multidisciplinary approach to women with mastectomy according to their menopausal status in terms of body appreciation and sexual life.