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  5. A preliminary investigation into the use of cannabis suppositories and online mindful compassion for improving sexual function among women following gynaecological cancer treatment
 
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A preliminary investigation into the use of cannabis suppositories and online mindful compassion for improving sexual function among women following gynaecological cancer treatment
File(s)
medicina-60-02020.pdf (909.11 KB)
Published version
Author(s)
Banbury, Samantha
Tharmalingam, Hannah
Lusher, Joanne
Erridge, Simon
Chandler, Chris
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The impact of gynaecological cancer and its treatments on sexual intimacy can be profound on female sexuality. However, very few registered clinical trials have addressed sexual intimacy among this cohort. Materials and Methods: This preliminary randomised control trial (RCT) and content analysis assessed the effectiveness of a brief online mindful compassion group intervention adjunct with cannabis suppositories. Eighty-three participants aged between 18 and 50+ years who were at least six months post-cancer treatment were randomly allocated to one of four groups, depending on whether they were already using cannabis suppositories. These included a cannabis-only group (CO), a mindful-compassion group (MC), a combined mindful-compassion and cannabis suppositories group (COCM) and a care-as-usual group (CAU). Measurements of sexual function, sexual self-efficacy, mindful compassion, well-being and quality of life were taken at weeks 0, 4 and 12. Results: Sexual function, including arousal, lubrication and orgasms, improved for both the MC p = 0.002 and COCM p ≤ 0.001 groups; in addition, sexual pain was reduced in the COCM p = 0.008 and CO p ≤ 0.001 groups compared to the CAU and MC groups, where p ≥ 0.05. Feedback suggested that cannabis mediated the effects of mindful compassion and supported well-being, sexual self-efficacy, and quality of life. Participants also voiced a preference for cannabis suppositories when using dilators as part of their treatment and the use of sex toys instead of dilators, suggesting that dilators had negatively impacted their sexuality. Conclusions: These preliminary and exploratory outcomes look promising and provide a foundation for future research to develop varied healthcare options to improve mental health service delivery and quality of life for this cohort.
Date Issued
2024-12
Date Acceptance
2024-11-30
Citation
Medicina, 2024, 60 (12)
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/116869
URL
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60122020
DOI
https://www.dx.doi.org/10.3390/medicina60122020
ISSN
1010-660X
Publisher
MDPI AG
Journal / Book Title
Medicina
Volume
60
Issue
12
Copyright Statement
© 2024 by the authors.
Published by MDPI on behalf of
the Lithuanian University of Health
Sciences. Licensee MDPI, Basel,
Switzerland. This article is an open
access article distributed under the
terms and conditions of the Creative
Commons Attribution (CC BY) license
(https://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Identifier
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60122020
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
2020
Date Publish Online
2024-12-07
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