Sexual Quality of Life among Women with Female Cancers in Arab Countries: A Mixed Systematic Review

The sexual health of women with gynecological or breast cancer is a major determinant of their quality of life, yet it is largely ignored in oncological care pathways. This systematic review, based on 25 studies conducted in Arab countries among patients aged 18 years and over (undergoing treatment or in remission), reveals a profound alteration in their intimate lives: Decreased desire, lubrication difficulties, orgasmic disorders, sexual dissatisfaction, and infrequent intercourse. These dysfunctions are not solely the result of the physical side effects of treatment, but are the result of a complex intertwining of biological, psychological, relational, sociocultural, and economic factors. In Arab contexts, marked by conservative cultural norms, the silence surrounding sexuality exacerbates these difficulties: patients are reluctant to talk about it with their partners, and healthcare professionals, who are often poorly trained or embarrassed, rarely address this issue. This collective silence hinders the provision of appropriate care. To remedy this, it is imperative to integrate sexual health into oncological care in a structured and culturally sensitive manner. This requires a multidisciplinary approach involving oncologists, psychologists, sexologists, and nurses, as well as therapeutic education programs focused on the real needs of patients. Only such a strategy, which is both holistic and contextualized, will restore not only their sexual well-being, but also their dignity and sense of normality after cancer.