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 studies related to sexual health are enrolling patients.

Multiple cancers

• NCT04806724: Opening the Conversation Study. This study looks 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. This study evaluates the effect of the testosterone drug 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 does not enroll 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). This study measures the effect of a sexual quality-of-life intervention for women with metastatic breast cancer and their partners.
• NCT01788839: Longitudinal Sexual and Reproductive Health Study of Women With Breast Cancer and Lymphoma. This study examines how cancer treatment affects sexual and reproductive function. Researchers request blood samples from participants to see if and how cancer treatment affects the ovaries and the ability to have children (fertility).

Colorectal cancer

• NCT04812912: Changes in Reproductive and Sexual Health in People With Early Onset Colorectal Cancer. This study determines how chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy treatments 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 tests two different ways to help men with sexual rehabilitation.
• 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. This study investigates the safety and effectiveness of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for treating the symptoms of androgen deficiency (sexual symptoms, low energy and physical dysfunction) and overall health-related quality-of-life for men with prostate cancer who have undergone radical prostatectomy.