Sexual health among Danish cancer survivors and individuals with no history of cancer: Baseline findings from the nationwide Project SEXUS cohort study.
Cancer survivors experienced significantly more sexual challenges than individuals without cancer, both overall and in the first 5 years after diagnosis, across multiple cancer sites and regardless of age at diagnosis.
Key Findings
Results
Cancer survivors overall experienced significantly more sexual challenges than individuals without cancer across multiple domains.
Study included 4085 cancer survivors and 58,590 individuals without cancer aged 15 to 89 years from the nationally representative Project SEXUS cohort study in Denmark.
Differences were observed across multiple cancer sites and regardless of age at diagnosis (less than 60 vs. 60 years or older).
Differences were also significant in the first 5 years after most recent cancer diagnosis.
Female cancer survivors had significantly elevated odds of dissatisfaction with breast appearance.
Adjusted odds ratio for dissatisfaction with breast appearance among women was aOR 1.89 (95% CI, 1.49–2.41).
This was among the highest aORs reported for women in the study.
Finding was noted as particularly high relative to other sexual outcomes measured.
Results
Female cancer survivors had significantly elevated odds of genital pain dysfunction.
Adjusted odds ratio for genital pain dysfunction among women was aOR 1.74 (95% CI, 1.32–2.28).
This was among the particularly high aORs noted for female cancer survivors.
Genital pain dysfunction was identified as a significant sexual health outcome distinguishing cancer survivors from those with no cancer history.
Results
Male cancer survivors had markedly elevated odds of erectile dysfunction compared to men with no history of cancer.
Adjusted odds ratio for erectile dysfunction among men was aOR 2.79 (95% CI, 2.30–3.38).
This was the highest aOR reported among all sexual outcomes for men.
Erectile dysfunction was identified as a particularly prominent sexual challenge among male cancer survivors.
Results
Male cancer survivors had significantly elevated odds of lack of sexual needs.
Adjusted odds ratio for lack of sexual needs among men was aOR 1.93 (95% CI, 1.61–2.30).
This was among the particularly high aORs noted for male cancer survivors.
Lack of sexual needs was identified alongside erectile dysfunction as a major distinguishing sexual health outcome for male survivors.
Results
Sexual health was significantly affected among cancer survivors of both sexes across cancer sites, time since diagnosis, and age at diagnosis.
Findings held across multiple cancer sites rather than being confined to cancers directly involving reproductive organs.
Effects were observed regardless of whether patients were diagnosed before or after age 60.
The population-based sample was nationally representative, drawn from the Project SEXUS cohort study in Denmark.
The study covered participants aged 15 to 89 years, spanning a broad demographic range.
Conclusions
The authors concluded that health care professionals should recognize and routinely address the sexual challenges experienced by cancer survivors to enhance their biopsychosocial recovery.
The framing of recovery as 'biopsychosocial' reflects the physical, psychological, and social dimensions of sexual health affected by cancer.
The call for routine clinical attention to sexual health was based on findings showing broad and consistent impacts across cancer types, sexes, and time periods.
This recommendation applied to survivors both in the early post-diagnosis period (first 5 years) and beyond.
What This Means
This research suggests that people who have been diagnosed with and treated for cancer face significantly more sexual health challenges than people who have never had cancer. Using data from over 62,000 Danish adults — including more than 4,000 cancer survivors — researchers found that these differences were consistent across many different types of cancer, affected both men and women, and persisted regardless of how old the person was when diagnosed or how long ago they were diagnosed. The study measured a wide range of sexual outcomes and found broad impacts, not just in cancers directly involving reproductive organs.
Some of the most notable findings were that male cancer survivors were nearly three times as likely to experience erectile dysfunction compared to cancer-free men, and were also almost twice as likely to report a lack of sexual desire. Female cancer survivors were significantly more likely to be dissatisfied with the appearance of their breasts and to experience genital pain. These challenges were especially pronounced in the first five years after diagnosis, but the effects extended beyond that window as well.
This research suggests that sexual health is a widespread and underappreciated consequence of cancer and its treatment, affecting survivors across many demographics and disease types. The authors emphasize that healthcare providers should proactively and routinely discuss sexual health with cancer survivors as part of their overall recovery care, rather than waiting for patients to raise these concerns themselves.
Madsen C, Graugaard C, Dalton S, Andersson M, Bidstrup P, Frisch M. (2025). Sexual health among Danish cancer survivors and individuals with no history of cancer: Baseline findings from the nationwide Project SEXUS cohort study.. Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.70074