Awareness and education to support sexual health after urologic cancer

One of the most common side effects of urologic cancer and its treatment is sexual dysfunction. This negative consequence can occur because of changes in anatomy and/or the physiologic response to sexual stimuli, but also due to the psychological impact of those physical changes and the cancer experience. Sexual health is a key part of survivorship, but it is under-emphasized in training and can be overlooked in clinical practice. To support the sexual health of the urologic cancer survivor, the urologic oncologist should: 1) acknowledge and educate the patient about the potential effects, 2) be sensitive to identifying sexual issues as they arise, and 3) be aware of treatment strategies and be able to access the team members needed to provide these strategies. As sexual function requires a complex interplay of anatomy, physiology, and psychology, so does addressing sexual dysfunction resulting from cancer treatment. In this special Seminars issue, we review the sexual dysfunction consequences of urologic cancers in both men and women and strategies to maximize sexual health.