{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]],"date-time":"2026-01-12T21:41:10Z","timestamp":1768254070639,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,25]],"date-time":"2023-12-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1703462400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Stem cell transplant proved its efficacy in increasing the survival rate among young patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies. A transplant conditioning regimen is particularly destructive on the genital system, often determining premature ovarian failure, accompanied by vulvovaginal atrophy and sexual dysfunctions. The aims of the present study were, first, to evaluate sexual dysfunctions among transplanted women, using clinical examination and the female sexual function index (FSFI), and second, to determine their impact on a couple\u2019s relationship. A prospective observational comparative study was performed and included 38 patients who underwent allogenic stem cell transplant (SCT) procedures for different hematological malignancies and 38 healthy patients (control group). This study included baseline evaluation, one-year, and three-year follow-up visits. In addition to anamnesis and medically obtained information, FSFI was evaluated to determine the impact of gynecological damage in a subjective manner. In the study group, vulvovaginal atrophy was diagnosed in 76.32%, with subsequent sexual dysfunctions in 92.10% of patients, based on FSFI scoring. Even though the results improved throughout the study, at the last visit, mild vulvovaginal atrophy was diagnosed in 81.58% of patients, and the FSFI score was abnormal for 21.05%. When compared to the control group, both sexual dysfunctions and FSFI results were considerably impaired, with statistical significance. There is a confirmed negative impact of sexual dysfunctions and self-declared FSFI on couple\/marital status and couple relationships, with statistical significance, at the last visit. In conclusion, anatomical, functional, and psychological difficulties are a reality of long-term survivors after a stem cell transplant. They should be addressed and assessed equally to other medical conditions, as they may determine serious consequences and impact the sexual quality of life and the couple\u2019s relationship.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life14010035","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,25]],"date-time":"2023-12-25T23:00:12Z","timestamp":1703545212000},"page":"35","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Women\u2019s Sexual Dysfunctions Following Stem Cell Transplant and the Impact on Couple Relationship"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0931-0596","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mihaela","family":"Plotogea","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cNicolae Malaxa\u201d Clinical Hospital, 022441 Bucharest, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cCarol Davila\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2370-5762","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anca","family":"Zgura","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cCarol Davila\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Claudia","family":"Mehedin\u021bu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cCarol Davila\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cFilantropia\u201d Clinical Hospital, 011179 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2746-6153","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesca","family":"Scurtu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cCarol Davila\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cFilantropia\u201d Clinical Hospital, 011179 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4890-0978","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aida","family":"Petca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cCarol Davila\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Valentin Nicolae","family":"Varlas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cCarol Davila\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cFilantropia\u201d Clinical Hospital, 011179 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Roxana Georgiana","family":"Bors","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cFilantropia\u201d Clinical Hospital, 011179 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Antoine","family":"Edu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cNicolae Malaxa\u201d Clinical Hospital, 022441 Bucharest, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cCarol Davila\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Oana-Maria","family":"Ionescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cCarol Davila\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0532-7929","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mihaela","family":"Andreescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, \u201cTitu Maiorescu\u201d University, 031593 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Radu Nicolae","family":"Mateescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cNicolae Malaxa\u201d Clinical Hospital, 022441 Bucharest, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, \u201cCarol Davila\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Al Jashi","family":"Isam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, \u201cTitu Maiorescu\u201d University, 031593 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1217","DOI":"10.1038\/s41409-022-01691-w","article-title":"Indications for haematopoietic cell transplantation for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders: Current practice in Europe, 2022","volume":"57","author":"Snowden","year":"2022","journal-title":"Bone Marrow Transpl."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.2991\/chi.k.210703.002","article-title":"History and Development of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Myeloid Leukemia","volume":"3","author":"Gorin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clin. 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