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Sexual dysfunction is common among U.S. men and women, and it is especially prevalent among cancer survivors. In female cancer survivors, sexual dysfunction can be amplified by treatment-related fatigue, depression, pain, and altered body image (e.g., mastectomy, pelvic surgery, pelvic radiation therapy). The rapid onset of menopause in women who receive chemotherapy, pelvic radiation, or oophorectomy, alone or in combination, can cause more severe symptoms than those typically found with the more gradual onset of naturally occurring menopause. Drugs (e.g., antidepressants) that are commonly used to treat cancer survivors also can affect sexual function and pleasure.
Sexual function or dysfunction is the result of a confluence of factors inc…