Body Image, Sexual Function, and Sexual Satisfaction in Women with Breast Cancer

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5020/18061230.2026.16404

Keywords:

Breast Neoplasms, Body Image, Sexuality, Prevalence Study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association of sociodemographic, clinical, and anthropometric factors with body image, sexual function, and sexual satisfaction in women diagnosed with breast cancer.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 101 women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2014 and 2016, receiving care in oncology services in the city of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sociodemographic, clinical, and anthropometric data were obtained from medical records, while information regarding body image, sexual function, and sexual satisfaction was collected through face-to-face interviews, using the breast cancer–specific questionnaire EORTC QLQ-BR23. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed, using Poisson regression to estimate associations between independent variables and the outcomes of interest. Results: Mean scores for sexual function and sexual satisfaction were low, whereas scores related to body image perception were high. Marital status was significantly associated with sexual function, with poorer function observed among women without a partner. In addition, a higher educational level was associated with better sexual function scores, even after adjustment for clinical and anthropometric factors. Conclusion: The findings indicate that sexuality and body image in women with breast cancer are influenced by sociodemographic factors, particularly marital status and educational level. These results highlight a gap in oncological care related to the systematic assessment of sexuality and underscore the importance of care strategies that consider these determinants to improve quality of life and well-being among women with breast cancer.

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Author Biographies

Eduarda Silva Kingma Fernandes, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Nutritionist who graduated from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) in 2017. Specialist in Oncology Nutrition certified by the Brazilian Society of Oncology Nutrition (SBNO), with a postgraduate degree in Oncology from Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (2018) and in Enteral and Parenteral Nutritional Therapy from Ganep Educação (2021). Master's in Public Health from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, with research in the area of breast cancer. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in the Graduate Program in Public Health at UFJF. She works as a substitute professor at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora and as a clinical nutritionist at Neoclínica Oncologia e Genética.

Angélica Atala Lombelo Campos, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Nurse holding a Bachelor's degree and Teaching License from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF - 2012). Specialist in Family Health through the Multiprofessional Family Health Residency Program (HU/UFJF - 2015). Specialist in Continuing Education in Health (UFGRS - 2015). Master in Public Health (UFJF - 2017) and Ph.D. in Public Health (UFJF - 2022) from the Faculty of Medicine of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora.

Maximiliano Ribeiro Guerra, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Graduated in Medicine from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil (1995). Master's (2002) and Ph.D. (2007) in Public Health, Concentration Area in Epidemiology, from the Institute of Social Medicine at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Postdoctoral Fellow (Senior Internship) in Cancer Genetic Epidemiology at INSERM U900, Institut Curie, Mines ParisTech/Fontainebleau, PSL Research University, Paris, France (2016-2017). Currently, he is a full professor in the Department of Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora.

Rafaela Russi Ervilha, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Postdoctoral Researcher at the Surgical Health Outcomes Research Enterprise (SHORE), Department of Surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center (NY, United States). Ph.D. in Public Health from the Graduate Program in Public Health at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (PPGSC-UFJF, 2025), with a doctoral sandwich period at the University of Rochester Medical Center (NY, United States). Master's in Public Health from PPGSC-UFJF (2018). Specialist in Public Health Organization Management from the Distance Education Center at UFJF (2020). Bachelor's degree in Psychology from UFJF (2015). Collaborator at the Cancer Research Group of the Advisory, Training, and Studies Center NATES (2019 - present), the Body Studies Laboratory LABESC (2021 - 2025), and the Electronic Cigarette Research Group (2023 - present).

Jane Rocha Duarte Cintra, Antônio Carlos University Center, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Graduated in Medicine from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (1987). Specialist title in Clinical Oncology from the Brazilian Society of Cancerology (1991). Master's in Brazilian Health from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (2008). Ph.D. in Brazilian Health from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (2012). Area of practice: Clinical oncologist at Instituto Oncológico, Hospital 9 de Julho, and Hospital Unimed - Juiz de Fora - Minas Gerais. Adjunct professor of the Clinical Oncology discipline at Universidade Presidente Antonio Carlos (Unipac) - Juiz de Fora.

Luiz Cláudio Ribeiro, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Graduated in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (1983). Master's in Electrical Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (1992) and Ph.D. in Demography from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2003). Currently, he is a full professor in the Department of Statistics at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, permanent professor in the Graduate Program in Public Health (Master's and Ph.D.) at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, and collaborating professor in the Graduate Program in Health at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora.

Maria Teresa Bustamante Teixeira, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Graduated in Medicine from the Medical Sciences School of Volta Redonda (1978), Master's (1991), Ph.D. (2000), and Postdoctorate (2012) in Public Health from the Institute of Social Medicine at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. Currently, she is a full professor at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, coordinator of NATES/UFJF, and editor of the Revista de APS. She initiated and coordinated the Graduate Program in Public Health (2007–2015; 2023–present), where she serves as a permanent faculty member.

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Published

2026-08-06

How to Cite

Fernandes, E. S. K., Campos, A. A. L., Guerra, M. R., Ervilha, R. R., Cintra, J. R. D., Ribeiro, L. C., & Teixeira, M. T. B. (2026). Body Image, Sexual Function, and Sexual Satisfaction in Women with Breast Cancer. Brazilian Journal in Health Promotion, 39, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.5020/18061230.2026.16404

Issue

Vol. 39 (2026)

Section

Original Article

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Copyright (c) 2026 Eduarda Silva Kingma Fernandes, Angélica Atala Lombelo Campos, Maximiliano Ribeiro Guerra, Rafaela Russi Ervilha, Jane Rocha Duarte Cintra, Luiz Cláudio Ribeiro, Maria Teresa Bustamante Teixeira

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