What This Means
This research summarizes what is known about sexual health problems in cancer survivors and how they can be addressed. The authors found that sexual difficulties after cancer treatment are extremely common — affecting up to 90% of women and up to 85% of men who have had cancer. These problems range from low sex drive and pain during sex to erectile dysfunction, hormonal changes, and concerns about body image and intimate relationships. The causes are tied to the physical effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and hormone therapies, as well as psychological and social factors.
The paper outlines a range of treatment options available to help cancer survivors with these issues. For women, options include non-hormonal therapies and low-dose local hormonal treatments for vaginal dryness and discomfort, as well as physical therapy and dilator therapy for pelvic floor problems. For men, erectile dysfunction can be treated with medications, injections, devices, or surgery, and testosterone therapy may be an option for hormone deficiency caused by treatment. Both men and women can benefit from counseling, sex therapy, and couples therapy to address the emotional and relational dimensions of sexual health.
This research suggests that oncology care teams should make sexual health a routine part of cancer survivorship care for all patients, regardless of age, gender, or cancer type. A thorough, patient-centered approach that considers the physical, emotional, and social aspects of sexual wellbeing has the potential to meaningfully improve quality of life for the millions of people living after a cancer diagnosis.