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Cancer and Sexual Health pp 525–534Cite as

Impact of Chemotherapy and Hormone Therapy on Female Sexual Health

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Part of the book series: Current Clinical Urology ((CCU))

Abstract

In both sexes, diagnosis and treatment of cancer have a crucial impact on each dimension of quality of life and well-being, including sexuality [1]. Facing a cancer is a major distress and it is absolutely normal that sexual difficulties may occur during the early course of the disease. However, the strong improvement of the survival rate raises the issue of managing long-term consequences for patients and their partners. Human sexuality encompasses much more than sexual function and is highly dependent on sexual identity and relationship during the entire life span. The burden of cancer has, indeed, a multidimensional impact on sexuality because it affects not only the biological substrates of sexual response, but also intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects which are essential for feeling intimacy in a relationship [2]. Previous experiences and socio-cultural norms may also modulate the clinical relevance of sexual symptoms and the level of distress. On the other hand, preserving sexual and emotional intimacy may reduce the negative impact of cancer favoring the patient’s positive attitude toward the awareness of being a day by day survivor, without experiencing a sense of guilt, shame, betrayal, loss of hope, etc. [3–5].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Morphological, Eidological and Clinical Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Rossella E. Nappi

  2. Gynecological Endocrinology and Menopause Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, IRCCS Maugeri Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Rossella E. Nappi

  3. IRCCS Fondazione “S. Maugeri”, Via Ferrata 8, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Rossella E. Nappi

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  1. Rossella E. Nappi
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  2. Francesca Albani
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  3. Maria Rosa Strada
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  4. Emmanuele Jannini
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sexual Medicine Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, East 68th Street 353, New York, 10021, New York, USA

    John P. Mulhall

  2. Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Dept. Radiation Oncology, Erasmus Medical Center, Groene Hilledijk 301, Rotterdam, 3075 EA, Netherlands

    Luca Incrocci

  3. Alvarado Hospital, Alvarado Road 6719, San Diego, 92120, California, USA

    Irwin Goldstein

  4. New England Research Institutes, Galen Street 9, Watertown, 02472, Massachusetts, USA

    Ray Rosen

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Nappi, R.E., Albani, F., Strada, M.R., Jannini, E. (2011). Impact of Chemotherapy and Hormone Therapy on Female Sexual Health. In: Mulhall, J., Incrocci, L., Goldstein, I., Rosen, R. (eds) Cancer and Sexual Health. Current Clinical Urology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-916-1_33

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