Oncosexology: A Narrative Review on Sexual Health and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients

Cancer remains a major global public health problem. A key aspect of cancer care among survivors is sexual health. Cancer patients experience a range of sexual dysfunctions, including erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and reduced libido. Psychological symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, and body image issues often exacerbate these problems, leading to impaired emotional and relational functioning. Despite their profound impact on quality of life, these concerns are not systematically addressed in routine cancer care. Oncosexology fits into this context, addressing the profound impact of cancer and its treatments on sexual health and intimacy.

This narrative review provides an overview of the current evidence on sexual dysfunction in adult cancer patients, including psychosocial correlates and available interventions, to help clinicians understand the scope, challenges, and management strategies related to sexual health in oncology.

The study was conducted by searching major scientific databases using search terms related to sexual health in cancer patients. Inclusion criteria were studies involving adult cancer patients, focusing on sexual health outcomes, therapeutic interventions, or care models, and published in peer-reviewed journals. Articles were selected based on the relevance of their findings and the quality of their presentation.

Data published in the literature show that sexual dysfunctions are common in cancer populations and often co-occur with psychological problems such as anxiety, fatigue, and altered body image. Interventions range from pharmacological treatments to psychosocial and psychosexual counseling and multidisciplinary care models. The results also highlight that, despite the difficulties patients and healthcare providers encounter in communicating about these topics, multidisciplinary interventions can help reduce these dysfunctions.

Integrating sexual health into cancer care is essential to promoting overall well-being and supporting long-term survival. Further high-quality, cancer-specific research is needed to support evidence-based, patient-centered interventions across diverse cancer populations.