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Addressing sexual health after cancer: whose job is it anyway? Provider practices and communication barriers.

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Title: Addressing sexual health after cancer: whose job is it anyway? Provider practices and communication barriers.
Authors: Girard A; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, MN, USA. girar023@umn.edu.; School of Health in Social Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. girar023@umn.edu., von DeWitt E; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, MN, USA., Rider GN; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, MN, USA., Geller MA; Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA., Pratt R; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, MN, USA., Vogel RI; Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA., Reese JB; Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Source: Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer [Support Care Cancer] 2026 Sep 22; Vol. 34 (10). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Sep 22.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Springer International Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 9302957 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1433-7339 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09414355 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Support Care Cancer Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Berlin : Springer International, c1993-
MeSH Terms: Genital Neoplasms, Female*/therapy , Health Personnel*/psychology , Sexual Health* , Communication Barriers*, Humans ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Communication ; Attitude of Health Personnel
Abstract: Purpose: Despite established clinical guidelines recommending sexual health screening in oncology care, significant gaps in provider-patient communication persist. This study examined the experiences of gynecologic oncology providers regarding sexual health communication to guide the design of a targeted training intervention.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 gynecologic oncology healthcare providers, including gynecologic oncologists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, practicing across three large healthcare systems in a single Midwestern U.S. state. Interviews were conducted via Zoom, audio recorded, professionally transcribed, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results: Two overarching themes were identified: contextual variability of sexual health communication and factors influencing sexual health communication. Providers described variability in the initiation, timing, and content of sexual health discussions, with advanced practice providers reporting greater comfort initiating these conversations than physicians. Key barriers included perceived time constraints, provider and patient discomfort, age-related assumptions, cultural and linguistic challenges, and uncertainty about professional scope of practice. Notably, providers demonstrated awareness of these barriers yet reported difficulty translating that awareness into consistent practice.
Conclusion: Gynecologic oncology providers recognize the importance of sexual health communication but face substantial structural, interpersonal, and cultural barriers that limit consistent implementation. Findings support the need for accessible, skills-based training and system-level strategies that embed sexual health communication as a routine component of gynecologic cancer survivorship care.
(© 2026. The Author(s).)
Competing Interests: Declarations. Disclaimer: The funder had no role in study design, data collection, analysis, or decision to publish. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
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Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Cancer survivorship; Provider communication; Quality of life; Sexual health
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260922 Date Completed: 20260922 Latest Revision: 20261015
Update Code: 20261016
PubMed Central ID: PMC13597646
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-026-11186-9
PMID: 42773265
Database: MEDLINE
Description
ISSN:1433-7339
DOI:10.1007/s00520-026-11186-9