Cancer survivors reported significantly poorer sexual health outcomes than age-matched cancer-free controls, with male cancer survivors appearing more affected by sexual health challenges than females when compared to their respective cancer-free controls.
Key Findings
Results
Cancer survivors reported significantly poorer sexual health outcomes than cancer-free controls across most measures.
Of 5,135 total respondents (33% response rate), 453 were cancer survivors and 4,682 were cancer-free controls
The survey was nationwide and stratified by sex and age to represent the Norwegian population
The exception was the importance of maintaining a sexually active life, which was rated equally important by both cancer survivors and cancer-free controls
Sexual health was evaluated using the EORTC SHQ-22 questionnaire and the sexual domains of the QLQ-BR23/QLQ-BR45
Results
Male cancer survivors appeared to be more affected by sexual health challenges than female cancer survivors when compared to their respective cancer-free controls.
This sex-based difference was observed using multivariable linear regression analyses comparing cancer survivors and cancer-free controls
Both male and female cancer survivors were compared to age-matched cancer-free controls of the same sex
The finding suggests a differential impact of cancer on sexual health between sexes relative to population norms
Results
There were minimal differences in sexual health between short-term and long-term cancer survivors.
Time since cancer diagnosis was divided into two categories: 2 years or less (short-term) and over 2 years (long-term)
Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to compare short- and long-term cancer survivors
The finding suggests that sexual health impairments do not substantially resolve over time following cancer diagnosis
Methods
This study is the first to utilize the EORTC SHQ-22 questionnaire to assess sexual health in both cancer survivors and cancer-free controls.
The EORTC SHQ-22 was used alongside the sexual domains of the QLQ-BR23/QLQ-BR45
The study design allowed for direct comparison between cancer survivors and a representative general population sample
The nationwide survey was stratified by sex and age to ensure a representative sample of the Norwegian population
Conclusions
Sexual health is identified as an overlooked health issue that should be addressed in follow-up programs for cancer survivors.
Sexual dysfunction is described as a common late effect of cancer that reduces quality of life
The authors state 'It is imperative to address this overlooked health issue in the follow-up programs for cancer survivors'
The persistence of sexual health impairments in both short- and long-term survivors underscores the need for ongoing clinical attention
What This Means
This Norwegian study examined sexual health in people who had been diagnosed with cancer compared to people of similar ages who had never had cancer. Researchers surveyed over 5,000 people from the general Norwegian population, of whom 453 were cancer survivors. They used validated questionnaires specifically designed to measure sexual health and found that cancer survivors consistently reported worse sexual health than their cancer-free peers in almost every area measured — the only exception being how much they valued staying sexually active, which was equally important to both groups.
One notable finding was that male cancer survivors seemed to experience a greater gap in sexual health compared to men without cancer than female cancer survivors did compared to women without cancer. The study also found that sexual health problems did not meaningfully improve over time — people diagnosed with cancer more than two years ago reported similarly poor sexual health as those diagnosed within the past two years, suggesting these issues tend to persist rather than resolve on their own.
This research suggests that sexual health is a significant but often overlooked consequence of cancer that affects both men and women and does not simply get better with time. The authors argue that healthcare providers should routinely address sexual health as part of cancer survivorship care, rather than leaving survivors to manage these challenges without support. This study is also notable for being the first to use a particular standardized sexual health questionnaire (the EORTC SHQ-22) to compare cancer survivors directly with the general population.
Åsberg E, Giskeødegård G, Karlsen J, Kiserud C, Aune G, Nilsen M, et al.. (2025). Sexual health in female and male cancer survivors - compared with age-matched cancer-free controls in Norway.. Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden). https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42451