Chapter 27: Living with and beyond cancer
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Women's sexual concerns following cancer
Females (in number and proportion) are the largest population group to experience cancers that directly affect the sexual organs. The malignancies that commonly originate in the sexual organs include ovarian, cervical, uterine and breast cancer (see Figure 27.5). The treatment of these malignancies typically involves local or systemic therapies that result in the removal, compromise or destruction of the sexual organs. Additionally, these therapies can cause abrupt or premature menopause, either directly or indirectly by disruption of female sex hormones (Lindau et al. [145]).
Figure 27.5 Posterior view of the uterus and associated structures. Source: Tortora and Derrickson ([274]). Reproduced with permission of John Wiley & Sons.
Menopause triggered by cancer treatment often results in abrupt, intense and/or prolonged oestrogen depletion with associated symptoms of sexual dysfunction (specifically vaginal dryness, dyspareunia and hot flushes) worse than those typically occurring in natural menopause (Carter et al. [41]). Women with vasomotor menopausal symptoms (hot flushes and night sweats) are twice as likely to experience sexual function problems (Panjari et al. [217]).
