Sexual health after breast cancer: a clinical practice review.
| Title: | Sexual health after breast cancer: a clinical practice review. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Kennedy SKF; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.; Mekhaeil S; Department of Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada.; Zhang E; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.; Jolfaei NA; School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.; Wong HCY; Department of Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Kowloon West Cluster, Hong Kong, China.; Chan AW; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.; Lee SF; Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.; Haywood D; Human Performance Research Centre, INSIGHT Research Institute, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, NSW, Australia.; Kirk D; School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia.; Abdou AM; Department of Clinical Oncology, El Zaitoun Specialized Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.; Gopalakrishnan R; Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA; Columbia Irving Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.; Guedes H; Medical Oncology Department, Local Unit of Health Gaia e Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.; Tan CJ; Department of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.; Thamm C; Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.; Alkhaifi M; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. |
| Source: | Annals of palliative medicine [Ann Palliat Med] 2024 Sep; Vol. 13 (5), pp. 1281-1290. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Review |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: AME Publishing Company Country of Publication: China NLM ID: 101585484 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2224-5839 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 22245820 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Ann Palliat Med Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Hong Kong : AME Publishing Company |
| MeSH Terms: | Breast Neoplasms*/psychology ; Breast Neoplasms*/therapy ; Cancer Survivors*/psychology ; Sexual Health*; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/etiology ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/psychology ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological/etiology ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological/psychology ; Humans ; Female |
| Abstract: | Breast cancer (BC) diagnoses not only present physical challenges but profoundly affect survivors' psychosocial well-being leading to sexual health challenges. This clinical practice review aimed to discuss the current literature and outline the knowledge gaps related to care for sexual health after BC, including survivors' sexual health concerns, as well as available prospective surveillance programs. Current literature on the sexual health challenges of BC survivors was identified and sorted into contributing factors, treatments and interventions, and practice recommendations. This evidence was then used to identify gaps in the literature and make recommendations for future research. BC survivors experience a variety of physical symptoms, such as pain during sex or dyspareunia, which impair sexual well-being. Additionally, dissatisfaction with sexual function may arise due to psychosocial stressors (e.g., depression or body image concerns) and the inverse may worsen psychological well-being. Treatments can have lasting effects that may impact sexual function, often reciprocally related to physical and psychosocial factors. Current treatments for sexual dysfunction involve topical products for vaginal symptoms (e.g., creams, pH-balanced gels, hyaluronic acid or vitamin E suppositories, natural oils, topical estrogen, or lubricants) and various counseling and educational interventions (e.g., mental health counseling, sex therapy, or couples-based psychotherapy). There is a general lack of research considering the ways in which intersectional concerns can impact sexual health experiences after BC. Existing studies do not often consider potential differences in needs that may arise due to ethnicity, age, or socioeconomic background. To address these limitations a significant paradigm shift in survivorship care. This requires moving beyond disease management towards a more holistic, comprehensive, patient-centered approach prioritizing comfort and sexual well-being. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Sexual health; breast cancer (BC); cancer survivorship |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20241011 Date Completed: 20241011 Latest Revision: 20241011 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| DOI: | 10.21037/apm-24-77 |
| PMID: | 39390654 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article; Review