Coital function after radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix uteri

The interference of treatment with the sexual life of the patient is an important but relatively neglected aspect of the study of carcinoma of the cervix uteri. In a study of the coital function of patients who had radiotherapy for Stages I to III (FIGO Classification) carcinoma of the cervix in the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria, dyspareunia and the fear of recurrence of the malignancy accounted for a marked reduction in the frequency of intercourse after treatment of their disease. A significant finding was the disruption in marital relationships directly attributable to the illness. Steps to minimise these problems are discussed.