Quality of life in female patients following ileal neobladder and ileal conduit

Salvatore Siracusano^1,*, Igino Andrea Magli¹, Andrea Pedreschi¹, Antonio Benito Porcaro², Gianluca Baldini³, Cristina Lonardi⁴
1 Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
2 Department of Urology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
3 Department of Clinical Medicine, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
4 Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
* Corresponding Author: Salvatore Siracusano. Email: email
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Evaluation of the Quality of Life in Cystectomized Patient: How, When and Why?)

Canadian Journal of Urology https://doi.org/10.32604/cju.2026.076061

Received 13 November 2025; Accepted 27 May 2026; Published online 14 August 2026

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Abstract

This review aims to summarize recent evidence on quality of life (QoL), functional, and oncologic outcomes in women undergoing radical cystectomy (RC). In this way, a comprehensive literature review was conducted, analyzing studies published on female patients undergoing RC with ileal conduit (IC) or orthotopic neobladder (ONB) urinary diversion. Emphasis was placed on the use of validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), including EORTC QLQ-C30 (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30), QLQ-BLM30 (Quality of Life Questionnaire-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Module 30), FACT-VCI (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Vanderbilt Cystectomy Index), FACT-Bl (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bladder), and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Studies comparing QoL between diversion types and between sexes were included. In particular, some studies reported superior QoL with IC, others favored ONB, while several found no significant differences. Sexual dysfunction was frequent among women, with decreased orgasmic ability, lubrication, and desire, and dyspareunia. Nerve- or vaginal-sparing techniques demonstrated potential benefits but lack long-term validation. Comparative studies revealed that women consistently report lower global QoL, higher fatigue, pain, and emotional distress, while men more frequently report sexual dissatisfaction. In conclusion, women undergoing RC face poorer oncologic and QoL outcomes than men, influenced by biological, hormonal, and psychosocial factors. Current QoL questionnaires inadequately address female-specific concerns. Future research should focus on prospective, gender-sensitive studies incorporating validated PROMs and multidisciplinary support to optimize postoperative recovery and long-term well-being.