Study reveals sexual health concerns in women with cancer

Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A new study reveals that female cancer patients have concerns related to sexual health that span all types and stages of cancer diagnosis.

The study, published Aug. 10 in the European Journal of Cancer Care, analyzed 109 published articles and studies published between 1990 and 2016.

Researchers found that women diagnosed with cancer experience unique and changing concerns and needs in relation to sexual health.

Some of the concerns women reported were related to side effects from cancer treatments such as vaginal dryness, painful or difficult sex and vulvo-vaginal atrophy.

Researchers found that women had sexual health concerns that were diverse, multiple and consisted along all types and stages of cancer. The main themes that came out of the study were how cancer affects female sexual well-being, physical impacts of cancer diagnosis and treatment, emotional impacts of cancer diagnosis and treatment and interventions for sexual dysfunction.