A new UBC-led study is drawing attention to a critical yet often overlooked aspect of colorectal cancer survivorship—its long-term impact on women’s sexual health.
The research, led by Dr. Mary De Vera, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and colorectal cancer survivor, analyzed data from over 25,000 women in BC diagnosed between 1985 and 2017. The findings reveal significantly increased risks of painful sex (dyspareunia), early menopause, pelvic inflammatory disease, and endometriosis among colorectal cancer survivors, compared to women without cancer. Younger women were particularly affected, with notably higher risks of sexual health complications.
Dr. De Vera and co-author Dr. Lori Brotto, a professor in UBC’s Faculty of Medicine and an expert in women’s sexual health, emphasize the urgent need for improved education and support around sexual health in cancer care.