Apparently a lot, according to a new study published in Gynecologic Oncology this month. In the first (!!) study of its kind, researchers examined the sexual health and functioning of long-time survivors of vaginal and cervical cancers. Compared to similar women without cancer, the cancer survivors were more likely to experience a variety of sexual problems, including lack of desire, painful intercourse, inability to have an orgasm, vaginal dryness, and anxiety about their sexual performance. Further, despite the fact that most of these women had their sexual organs removed or destroyed during their cancer treatments, only one-third of doctors actually talked to these women about their sexual health.
The lack of talking isn't for lack of wanting to talk either - at least not on the patients' part. Most of the cancer survivors surveyed believe sex is an important part of life and they want their doctors to discuss their sexual health. So why aren't they?
It's no secret that we Americans have a lot of hang-ups when it comes to sex. Just take a look at your neighborhood abstinence-only (sex) education program ("zippers closed, buttons buttoned") to see that. But we're talking about consenting adult women (average age = 49 years), nearly three-fourths of whom were married and several more who were in long-term partnerships. In my view, doctors need to step it up and take responsibility for initiating conversations about sexual health with female patients. Further, these conversations need to occur not only with cancer survivors, but with all women across the lifespan, and especially as women age and hormonal shifts affect sexual health and functioning.
While I would like to think my call to arms will inspire physicians to talk to their patients about sex and sexual functioning, it's clear from this study that women unfortunately can't depend on their doctors to initiate such conversations. Rather, women need to be proactive partners in their health care, and sometimes this means bringing up difficult conversations. ("Well, Dr. X, I'm not having orgasms when I make love to my husband.") Women deserve to enjoy sex in the same way as men - and the way that little blue pill flies off the shelves, my guess is men are enjoying it fully, doctor-approved.
The lack of talking isn't for lack of wanting to talk either - at least not on the patients' part. Most of the cancer survivors surveyed believe sex is an important part of life and they want their doctors to discuss their sexual health. So why aren't they?
It's no secret that we Americans have a lot of hang-ups when it comes to sex. Just take a look at your neighborhood abstinence-only (sex) education program ("zippers closed, buttons buttoned") to see that. But we're talking about consenting adult women (average age = 49 years), nearly three-fourths of whom were married and several more who were in long-term partnerships. In my view, doctors need to step it up and take responsibility for initiating conversations about sexual health with female patients. Further, these conversations need to occur not only with cancer survivors, but with all women across the lifespan, and especially as women age and hormonal shifts affect sexual health and functioning.
While I would like to think my call to arms will inspire physicians to talk to their patients about sex and sexual functioning, it's clear from this study that women unfortunately can't depend on their doctors to initiate such conversations. Rather, women need to be proactive partners in their health care, and sometimes this means bringing up difficult conversations. ("Well, Dr. X, I'm not having orgasms when I make love to my husband.") Women deserve to enjoy sex in the same way as men - and the way that little blue pill flies off the shelves, my guess is men are enjoying it fully, doctor-approved.
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