{"id":26465,"date":"2025-06-04T22:24:59","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T16:39:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/?p=26465"},"modified":"2025-06-04T22:25:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T16:40:03","slug":"colorectal-cancer-leaves-lasting-toll-on-womens-sexual-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/colorectal-cancer-leaves-lasting-toll-on-womens-sexual-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorectal cancer leaves lasting toll on women\u2019s sexual health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A new University of British Columbia-led study is shedding light on a long-overlooked consequence of colorectal cancer: the lasting toll it can take on women\u2019s sexual health, even years after treatment ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers analyzed health data from more than 25,000 women in B.C. diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 1985 and 2017, comparing their experiences to those of cancer-free women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation were linked to a range of long-term sexual health issues, including a 67 percent higher risk of dyspareunia\u2014pain during sex\u2014a condition that can cause severe distress and affect quality of life. For women diagnosed before age 40, the risk jumped to 90 percent.
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The study also revealed that survivors were more than three times as likely to experience pelvic inflammatory disease and nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis. Among younger women, the risk of premature ovarian failure\u2014or early menopause\u2014was 75 percent higher than in their cancer-free counterparts.
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The study, published in\u00a0JNCI: Journal of National Cancer Institute, is one of the first to use population-level data to explore sexual health outcomes for colorectal cancer survivors.
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\u201cSexual health is a fundamental part of quality of life, yet it\u2019s an area that needs much more emphasis in colorectal cancer survivorship care. What our study shows is that these issues aren\u2019t rare\u2014they\u2019re common, significant, and often only diagnosed well after treatment has ended,\u201d said Dr. Mary De Vera, senior author and an associate professor in UBC\u2019s faculty of pharmaceutical sciences.
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Dr. De Vera is herself a colorectal cancer survivor. \u201cAs someone who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, I know how difficult it can be to deal with sexual health issues afterward. In my patient communities, I\u2019ve seen how often these challenges are experienced, but with very little support. This study was inspired by those experiences and is an opportunity to use research to raise awareness and bring these issues into the open.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rising rates for a common cancer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in Canada, with around 10,500 new cases diagnosed in 2023. While often seen as a disease that affects older men, rates are rising among women and younger people.
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Co-author Dr. Lori Brotto, a professor in UBC\u2019s faculty of medicine and an expert in women\u2019s sexual health, said the findings highlight a critical gap in care.
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\u201cAddressing sexual health in cancer care is still not standard of practice, and many healthcare providers attribute this to a lack of training in the various ways that cancer can impact a patient\u2019s sexual health. These findings highlight the importance of all healthcare providers receiving some training in identifying sexual problems and in being aware of evidence-based supports for survivors,\u201d said Dr. Brotto.
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The authors say their findings point to an urgent need for better education, early interventions, and more open conversations in cancer care settings.
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\u201cIdentifying and acknowledging these issues is the first step toward more comprehensive, compassionate care for women after cancer,\u201d said Dr. De Vera.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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