Breast cancer treatment causes sexual dysfunction
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Breast cancer survivors are more likely to have sexual function problems, according to a new study published in the journal of Sexual Medicine.
The study reveals that 70 percent of women treated for breast cancer were facing sexual function problems two years after diagnosis.
For the study, Mary Panjaru, Ph.D. of the Women's Health Program at Monash University in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and colleagues surveyed 1,700 breast cancer survivors.
More than 80 percent of the breast cancer survivors reported they had a good and satisfying sex life prior to diagnosis, the study found.
But of the partnered women aged 70 or younger who had no active disease, 70 percent said they experienced sexual function problems after treatment.
Some survivors reported they had concerns about their body image after treatment. Some reported that post-treatment they experienced menopausal symptoms, which can affect sex life.
Adjuvant endocrine therapy after surgery and chemotherapy may exacerbate vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats; it can also cause sexual function problems, according to a press release by Wiley-Blackwell.
Adjuvant endocrine therapy is indicated to treat women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer in an effort to prevent the disease from coming back.
"Women on aromatase inhibitors were 2.5 times more likely to report sexual function problems if they also had body image issues," Panjaru said.
The researchers found in women who were not treated with endocrine therapy, there was no link between sexual dysfunction and vasomotor symptoms.
"Women who have been diagnosed and treated for breast cancer still require support to maintain health and well-being after breast cancer," Panjaru said.
"As women now remain on aromatase inhibitors for longer periods, sexual function problems are likely to become more common amongst breast cancer survivors."
Sexual problems are not something new to breast cancer survivors. Researchers at the University of California - Berkeley reported in 2007 that some women had persistent sexual difficulties, even five years after their treatment.
According to the National Cancer Institute, body image may only have a skin-deep effect on sexuality in breast cancer survivors because breast conservation or reconstruction both have only a minor impact on preservation of sexual function.
The NCI also cites studies saying that mastectomy was associated with greater problems in sexual interest, while chemotherapy was associated with greater sexual dysfunction. Preventive medicine like aromatase inhibitors used to prevent breast cancer from recurring can lead to sexual function problems as well.
Wedmd, a health information site, suggests that vaginal moisturizers, lubricants, exercise, and vaginal dilators may help breast cancer survivors to have a better sex life.
By David Liu and editing by Rachel Stockton
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