Physical examination of the female cancer patient with sexual concerns: What oncologists and patients should expect from consultation with a specialist

Stacy Tessler Lindau; Emily M Abramsohn; Shirley R Baron; Judith Florendo; Hope K Haefner; Anuja Jhingran; Vanessa Kennedy; Mukta K Krane; David M Kushner; Jennifer McComb; Diane F Merritt; Julie E Park; Amy Siston; Margaret Straub; Lauren Streicher

doi:10.3322/caac.21337

Physical examination of the female cancer patient with sexual concerns: What oncologists and patients should expect from consultation with a specialist

CA Cancer J Clin. 2016 May;66(3):241-63. doi: 10.3322/caac.21337. Epub 2016 Jan 19.

Authors

Stacy Tessler Lindau^{1

2

3

4}, Emily M Abramsohn⁵, Shirley R Baron^{6

7}, Judith Florendo^{8

9}, Hope K Haefner¹⁰, Anuja Jhingran¹¹, Vanessa Kennedy¹², Mukta K Krane¹³, David M Kushner¹⁴, Jennifer McComb¹⁵, Diane F Merritt¹⁶, Julie E Park¹⁷, Amy Siston¹⁸, Margaret Straub¹⁹, Lauren Streicher²⁰

Affiliations

¹ Director, Program in Integrative Sexual Medicine for Women and Girls With Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
² Associate Professor, Department of Medicine-Geriatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
³ MacLean Center on Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
⁴ Associate Professor, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
⁵ Researcher and Project Manager, Program in Integrative Sexual Medicine for Women and Girls With Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
⁶ Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
⁷ Clinical Associate, Program in Integrative Sexual Medicine for Women and Girls With Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
⁸ Doctor of Physical Therapy, Florendo Physical Therapy, Chicago, IL.
⁹ Clinical Associate, Program in Integrative Sexual Medicine for Women and Girls with Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
¹⁰ Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI.
¹¹ Professor, Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
¹² Assistant Professor, Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA.
¹³ Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
¹⁴ Director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI.
¹⁵ Assistant Clinical Professor, The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
¹⁶ Professor, Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, WA University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
¹⁷ Associate Professor, Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
¹⁸ Clinical Associate, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
¹⁹ Physician's Assistant, Radiation Oncology, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.
²⁰ Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.

Abstract

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE Sexual concerns are prevalent in women with cancer or cancer history and are a factor in patient decision making about cancer treatment and risk-reduction options. Physical examination of the female cancer patient with sexual concerns, regardless of the type or site of her cancer, is an essential and early component of a comprehensive evaluation and effective treatment plan. Specialized practices are emerging that focus specifically on evaluation and treatment of women with cancer and sexual function problems. As part of a specialized evaluation, oncologists and their patients should expect a thorough physical examination to identify or rule out physical causes of sexual problems or dysfunction. This review provides oncology professionals with a description of the physical examination of the female cancer patient with sexual function concerns. This description aims to inform anticipatory guidance for the patient and to assist in interpreting specialists' findings and recommendations. In centers or regions where specialized care is not yet available, this review can also be used by oncology practices to educate and support health care providers interested in expanding their practices to treat women with cancer and sexual function concerns. CA Cancer J Clin 2016;66:241-263. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Keywords: cancer; female; physical examination; sexual dysfunction; survivorship.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Female
Gynecological Examination / methods*
Gynecology
Humans
Neoplasms*
Oncologists
Physical Examination / methods
Referral and Consultation
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / diagnosis*
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / diagnosis*
Survival Rate

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding