Addressing Sexual Health in Oncology Patients

Female sexual dysfunction is a well-studied adverse effect of cancer treatment. Despite its prevalence, however, it remains vastly underdiagnosed and undertreated in oncology patients, with providers inadequately addressing sexual function before, during, and after treatment. Although most patients prefer that their providers initiate conversations regarding sexual health, providers may be reticent to screen for such problems due to insufficient knowledge and expertise in the diagnosis and management of female sexual dysfunction. In this podcast episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Nicole Dreibelbis, certified registered nurse practitioner specializing in women's health at UPMC Magee Cancer Center in central Pennsylvania.   "Sexual health is a part of everyone's well-being [and] is important. I think we need to start addressing that, in survivorship and even prior, for patients to be able to get the most out of their lives. Because that's the whole point of our treatments—to make sure that we're giving them more life. We want that life to be as good as possible."—Nicole Dreibelbis, CRNP, WHNP-BC   Nicole Dreibelbis, CRNP, WHNP-BC Gynecologic Oncology Nurse Practitioner UPMC Magee Cancer Center Mechanicsburg, PA   Resources Addressing the Unmet Need of Sexual Health in Oncology Patients—Oncology Issues Fertility Preservation for Women with Cancer—Oncology Issues Sexual Health: All of Me—CANCER BUZZ Podcast All of Me: Bridging the Sexual Health Communication Gap in Cancer Care—Oncology Issues Improving Fertility Preservation Discussions for Adolescent and Young Adult Male Oncology Patients—Oncology Issues Developing a Community Oncofertility Program—Oncology Issues Patient-provider communication about sexual concerns in cancer: a systematic review—Journal of Cancer Survivorship Female Sexual Health Training for Oncology Providers: New Applications—The Journal of Sexual Medicine