ArticleWomen's health (London, England)
Sexuality after breast cancer treatment: An experience of asymmetry.
Article in Women's health (London, England). The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effect of breast cancer surgery on levels of depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC cancer · 2025Pooled it
- Considering symptom burden and social relationships during sexual health management in ovarian suppression-treated women with breast cancer.Communications medicine · 2026Article
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4 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundBreast cancer survivorship is often associated with a negative impact on sexual function and sexual well-being. Given that sexual well-being contributes to quality of life-including for breast cancer survivors-it is important to address survivors' sexual worries during the treatment process.
objectiveThis study explored factors that contribute to changes in sexual functioning and sexual well-being after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in otherwise healthy patients.
designNarrative qualitative study using thematic analysis.
methodWe included 25 breast cancer survivors without severe comorbidities for individual interviews (
resultsAfter the diagnosis of breast cancer, a sudden shift emerged in relation to life before and after breast cancer. A thematic analysis resulted in the identification of one high-level theme: asymmetry. This asymmetry was experienced in the following domains: (1) physical asymmetry in the chest region after surgery and radiotherapy, (2) sexual asymmetry; differences in how the body and mind react to sexual stimuli due to residual physical side effects and the effects of ongoing treatment: a lack of sexual desire, severe vaginal dryness and/or dyspareunia, and lack of vaginal arousal response during sexual activity, (3) life asymmetry in time- and self-management, which deprives patients from experiences that make someone feel good about oneself, (4) asymmetry in the experience in invulnerability: the reality of the sexual side effects of treatment and expectations of these side effects after being informed by a healthcare professional, and (5) relational asymmetry: asymmetry between the partners in their relationship due to role confusion and role changes.
conclusionBreast cancer diagnosis and treatment have a distinct impact on sexual function and sexual well-being. Changes in social relationships due to the diagnosis and the physical side effects of treatment are associated with a decline in sexual well-being, which should receive more attention in research and clinical care.
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