Women treated for gynaecological cancer at greater risk of sexual dysfunction: Study
02 Jun 2015
A new study had shown sexual dysfunction in women following gynecological cancer treatment.
The study by the University of Colorado Cancer Center study showed that sexual activity went down from 6.1-6.8 times per month before treatment to 2.6-4.9 times per month after treatment.
According to researcher Saketh Guntupalli, it was a topic that not many people wanted to talk about since it was uncomfortable, but for scientists it was about maintaining the quality of life after treatment for couples that have gone through it.
Every year nearly 90,000 women in the US are diagnosed with a gynecological cancer including cancer of the cervix, uterus, ovaries, vagina, and vulva and have to undergo treatments including radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery.
Besides showing an overall decrease in sexual frequency after cancer treatment, the data showed that younger, pre-menopausal women were at higher risk for sexual dysfunction and so were women who received chemotherapy or were committed relationships.
However, even as sexual activity declined there was no accompanying increase in marital dysfunction.
According to Guntupalli the researchers thought that if couples were given the option to go to counselling during cancer treatment it might help with their sexual health in the long run.
He noted that if researchers could approach patients that might have problems up front and offer interventions, especially younger couples, it could really enhance life after cancer.
