Sex and intimacy after breast cancer

Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider

• What are the common sexual side effects of my treatment?
• What are some ways of coping with these effects?
• Can I include my partner in my appointments?
• Can you refer me to a sexual health expert?
• Where can I find more resources and information on this topic?

Open Clinical Trials

The following research studies related to sexual health are enrolling patients.

Multiple cancers

• NCT04806724: Opening the Conversation Study. This study will look at a program designed to help young couples who are dealing with breast or gynecologic cancer cope with and communicate about cancer-related reproductive and sexual health concerns.
• NCT04049331: Testosterone Replacement in Male Cancer Survivors With Fatigue and Low Testosterone. The overall goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of a testosterone drug called Depo-Testosterone (testosterone cypionate), an FDA-approved drug for improving fatigue, sexual function, quality of life, body composition, muscle strength and physical activity in young cancer survivors who report fatigue and have low testosterone. This study is not open to men who have been diagnosed with hormone-related cancers, including prostate or breast cancer.  

Breast cancer 

• NCT05636943: Couples' QOL in Metastatic Breast Cancer (C-QOL). The goal of this study is to measure the effect of a sexual quality-of-life intervention in women with metastatic breast cancer and their partners.
• NCT01788839: Longitudinal Sexual and Reproductive Health Study of Women With Breast Cancer and Lymphoma. The purpose of this study is to see how cancer treatment affects sexual and reproductive function. Patients will be asked to participate in blood draws to see if and how cancer treatment affects the ovaries and the ability to have children (fertility).
• NCT03257670: Fractional CO2 Laser Therapy Versus 4% Topical Lidocaine Gel for Dyspareunia in Breast Cancer Survivors. This study looks at whether vaginal CO2 laser therapy more effectively reduces painful intercourse in women who are breast cancer survivors than lidocaine to the opening of the vagina. It will also determine whether the CO2 laser improves pelvic floor function, bowel and bladder function, and sexual function before and after treatment.

Colorectal cancer

• NCT04812912: Changes in Reproductive and Sexual Health in People With Early Onset Colorectal Cancer. The purpose of this study is to find out how cancer treatments (chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy) affect reproductive and sexual health in people with early-onset colorectal cancer. 

Prostate cancer

• NCT02706561: Helping Men Adhere to Sexual Rehabilitation Following Prostate Cancer Surgery This study will test two different ways to help men with sexual rehabilitation.
• NCT03525262: Prostate Oncologic Therapy While Ensuring Neurovascular Conservation (POTEN-C) (POTEN-C). This study will test whether reducing the dose of radiation or 'sparing' nerves during radiation for localized prostate cancer improves sexual health without changing cancer outcomes.
• NCT04025372: INTREPId (INTermediate Risk Erection PreservatIon Trial). This study compares a new hormonal therapy used with radiation for intermediate-risk prostate cancer and whether this new form of hormonal therapy is as effective as the standard hormone therapy while also preserving erectile function.
• NCT03716739: Improving Quality of Life of Prostate Cancer Survivors With Androgen Deficiency. The goal of this study is to learn if testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) safely and effectively improves the symptoms of androgen deficiency (sexual symptoms, low energy, and physical dysfunction) and overall health-related quality of life in men with prostate cancer who have undergone radical prostatectomy.