Impact of Testicular Cancer on Socio-Economic Health, Sexual Health and Fertility of Survivors—A Questionnaire Based Survey

Testicular cancer (TC) is diagnosed at a young age and carries a remarkably high cure rate. Hence, there is a sizeable population living in the survivorship phase. Many studies have highlighted the plight of TC survivors as a result of late side effects of different therapeutic modalities used for treatment of TC. This is the first study in Ireland to highlight the impact of TC on socio-economic health, sexual health, and fertility in survivors. We performed a questionnaire-based survey, fully anonymised to encourage participation. Questionnaires were designed to measure the self-reported impact on social, sexual, and economic health on a five-point Likert scale (ranging from no effect to very significant effect). Whereas, any effect on fertility was investigated with questions regarding biological children before and after cancer with or without medical assistance. A total of 83 TC survivors participated in the study. Almost half of our respondents revealed some effect on their performance at work and personal finances. Around one-third had an impact on career choice, job security, and their relationship with their partner. Regarding sexual health, the worst repercussions were noted on sex drive and body image perception, where close to half of the respondents reported at least some deterioration. Ejaculation and erectile function were affected in 30% of the participants. Of all participants, 17% reported issues with fertility, and the same proportion reported seeking medical help to conceive after diagnosis or treatment of TC. In conclusion, some TC survivors experience significant impact on their socio-economic and sexual health.