Muna Al-Khaifi, Lead of Breast Cancer Survivorship Program and GP oncologist, Skin Cancer Clinic at Sunnybrook, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“More than just ‘vaginal dryness’: sexual dysfunction after cancer is structural, not just symptomatic.
A 2025 study published in Supportive Care in Cancer (Kobiella et al.) highlights an important and often overlooked reality in female cancer survivorship: sexual dysfunction is not only a subjective symptom — it correlates with measurable genitourinary anatomical changes.
In this cohort of female cancer survivors seen in a dedicated sexual health clinic, nearly all participants met criteria for sexual dysfunction. Importantly, objective exam findings — such as vaginal stenosis and a narrowed vaginal introitus — were significantly associated with worse sexual function across multiple domains, including lubrication, pain, orgasm, and satisfaction.
Endocrine therapy, particularly aromatase inhibitor use, was associated with more abnormal genitourinary findings, reinforcing what many clinicians see in practice but may not routinely assess.
Key takeaway:
Sexual dysfunction in cancer survivors is more than “vaginal dryness.” It reflects structural and anatomical changes that require intentional assessment, standardized tools, and proactive survivorship care.
This study underscores the need to move beyond symptom checklists and integrate genitourinary examination and sexual health expertise into routine cancer survivorship models.
Quality of life matters — and sexual health is a core component of survivorship care.”
Title: More than just “vaginal dryness”: sexual dysfunction correlates with genitourinary anatomy changes in female cancer survivors
Authors: Erin Kobiella, Sanjana Satish, Fay Pon, Lia Jueng, Chloe Shields, Melissa Curran, Tizeta Wolde, Jessica F. Moore, Samantha Greenseid, Tulay Koru-Sengul, Wei Zhao, Frank Penedo & Kristin E Rojas
You can read the full article in Supportive Care in Cancer.
More posts featuring Muna Al-Khaifi.