(118) ORGASM AND HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN FEMALE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS: RESULTS FROM A PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY STUDY.

This study investigates the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and sexual function, specifically orgasm and sexual arousal, in female breast cancer survivors compared to healthy controls. The research involved 40 premenopausal breast cancer survivors on hormonal treatment and 20 healthy controls, assessing sexual function, HRV, and related psychological measures. Results indicated that breast cancer survivors experienced lower sexual function, sexual self-esteem, and quality of life, with higher sexual distress than controls, but baseline HRV differences were attributed to age rather than cancer treatment. No significant differences in baseline HRV were found between orgasmic and anorgasmic women, and further analyses are planned to explore HRV’s predictive value for orgasm occurrence. The study highlights the need for more research on physiological factors underlying sexual dysfunction in this population.