Team profile by members of the Promoting Female Sexual Well-Being Through Research and Education project team

Sexual health is an integral part of well-being that remains understudied and unaddressed in clinical care, particularly for individuals assigned female sex at birth. Certain life events – such as childbirth and cancer treatment – can have abrupt and profound impacts on sexual function. 

This team divided into two subteams to examine sexual health and well-being. The Postpartum subteam aimed to understand psychosocial approaches to postpartum sexual well-being and to create a conceptual model to improve assessment and intervention methods. The Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Survivors subteam examined AYA-specific programming at NCI-designated cancer centers and comprehensive cancer centers.

Promoting Sexual Well-Being in the Postpartum Period

Postpartum changes in sexual frequency, desire and satisfaction are common. However, many individuals report feeling unprepared for these changes and thus can experience significant distress and a strong desire to “get back to normal.” Current clinical and research approaches that equate these related, but distinct, outcomes (e.g., levels of desire) with sexual well-being can reinforce individuals’ distress.

This subteam’s objectives were to better understand current psychosocial approaches to improving postpartum sexual well-being and create a conceptual model of postpartum sexual well-being to direct more effective, evidence-based approaches to assessment and intervention.

The team met the first objective by completing a scoping review of the current research evidence regarding the effectiveness of N = 12 sexual health and well-being-related intervention approaches. This review process revealed numerous gaps in existing approaches and reinforced the need for a comprehensive conceptual model to guide future intervention work.

The team partially met the second objective by completing a synthesis of N = 38 qualitative research studies to identify common themes relevant to promoting postpartum sexual well-being. This synthesis revealed themes across four domains: cognitive-affective (e.g., sexual self-determination; sexual comfort); interpersonal (e.g., partner sexual support); cultural (e.g., cultural sexual comfort); and structural (e.g., sexual resource access). The team is also engaged in ongoing qualitative interviews to further inform and refine this model.

These data, as well as data from cognitive interviews, will inform the development of a measure of postpartum sexual well-being that will undergo psychometric testing in the Fall of 2024.

Promoting Sexual Well-Being in the Postpartum Period

Poster by Jane Atkeson, Isabelle Ginn, Meghan Quinlan, Chinenye Agina, Sarah Arthur and Hailey Williams

Promoting Female Sexual Health and Well-Being Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology patients (aged 18-29) experience sexual health concerns at high rates. AYA cancer survivors are diagnosed at a critical period in their sexual development, and cancer and associated treatments can have a detrimental impact on their sexual functioning and satisfaction.

This subteam’s objectives were to complete an online review of AYA and sexual health resources within National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated centers; conduct a literature review of sexual health programs for cancer survivors (including AYAs); develop potential content and stakeholder interview guide; conduct stakeholder interviews and refine program content; and pilot test developed program with patient stakeholders.

The subteam met the first objective by examining the availability of AYA-specific programming within NCI-designated cancer center (N=9) and comprehensive cancer center (N=58) locations. Only 33% (n=3) of non-comprehensive cancer centers and 52% (n=30) of comprehensive cancer centers advertised designated AYA programs.

None of the non-comprehensive cancer centers advertised sexual health programs or provided information about AYA-specific sexual health on their websites. Findings were presented at the annual meeting of Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer.

The subteam completed the second objective of conducting a literature review of sexual health programs for cancer survivors, which informed the development of the stakeholder interview guide and potential educational program content.

Team members are currently conducting stakeholder interviews and refining the program content. Pilot testing of the developed program will begin in the Fall of 2024.

Promoting Sexual Health and Well-Being Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Poster by Louise Adillon, Bella Liu, Uyen Nguyen, Juliann Stalls, Caroline Dorfman, Rebecca Shelby