Sexuality & Fertility

Help and hope for patients experiencing changes in sexuality and fertility due to cancer treatment side effects.

Female Fertility and Cancer Treatment
How does cancer therapy effect fertility? In a woman of reproductive age, one of the two ovaries begins to develop 15-20 immature eggs (oocytes) within follicles (cells which support its development) every month. Only one of these oocytes is...

Life Vs. Life: fertility preservation for cancer patients [Video]
Nat's Personal Story of Survival: An intensely personal and informative story about Nathalie Criou, a young woman who is beating the odds against a rare form of cervical carcinoma. To get up-to-date information about how Nat is doing, check...

Male Fertility and Cancer Treatment
How does cancer therapy effect fertility? It is important to understand that chemotherapy works by killing rapidly dividing cells. Chemotherapy is able to destroy large numbers of cancer cells because they are rapidly dividing and abnormally...

Sexuality

Women's Guide to Sexuality During & After Cancer Treatment
Common questions and concerns about sexuality and sexual activity during and after cancer treatment.

Vaginal Dryness and Painful Intercourse
Vaginal dryness and related painful intercourse (called dyspareunia) is one of the most common problems reported by women who are receiving or have completed cancer treatments. This sheet provides the facts on products and suggestions to relieve...

Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction after Cancer Treatment
Information on treatments for erectile dysfunction after cancer treatment.

Resources

Sexuality Web Sites
The Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer Provides direct services to lesbians with cancer, their partners and caregivers. Education and information to the lesbian community about cancer as well as to the health care community about the...

News

Fertility Preservation Guidelines for Cancer Patients Reviewed
Jun 13, 2013 - No major, substantive revisions were necessary, but clarifications were added to update the American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines on fertility preservation for children and adults with cancer, according to a report published online May 28 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Age, Sex Predict Neoplasia Risk in CT Colonography Screening
Jun 11, 2013 - For individuals undergoing screening computed tomographic colonography, age and sex, but not body mass index or family history, are independent predictors of advanced neoplasia risk, according to a study published online June 10 in Cancer.

Biological Sex Trait Influences Melanoma Survival
Jun 10, 2013 - Melanoma progression and survival seem to be substantially influenced by a biologic sex trait, even in advanced disease, according to research published online May 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

OncoLink Library

Reviews of book and videos about survivorship

Breaking the Silence on Cancer and Sexuality
Author: Anne Katz, RN, PhD Publisher: Oncology Nursing Society, © 2007

Vaginal Changes and Sexuality in Women with a History of Cervical Cancer
Reviewers: Kenneth Blank, MD Source: New England Journal of Medicine, May 6, 1999 Vol. 340 No. 18 p. 1383IntroductionLocal treatment of cervical cancer often involves surgery, radiotherapy, or a combination of both treatments. For early stage cervical cancer, these treatments are very effective, curing the majority of women. Unfortunately, side

Urinary and Sexual Function After Radical Prostatectomy for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer
Reviewers: Li Liu, MDSource: JAMA, 2000 Jan 19; 283(3): 354-60BackgroundUrinary incontinence and impotence are among the most common side effects after radical prostatectomy for early stage prostate cancer. The rates of incontinence range from 4% to 40% and impotence from 30% to 75% depending upon the selection of the patients and clinical