Treating breast cancer in postmenopausal women with aromatase inhibitors leads to high degrees of sexual difficulties. These side effects include low interest, insufficient lubrication, and pain with intercourse, according to researchers from Örebro University and Uppsala University in Sweden.
The study, published online in Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society, is the first to examine the impact of this type of breast cancer treatment on specific aspects of sexuality in postmenopausal women. The study revealed that nearly three-quarters of these women had insufficient lubrication, 56% had pain with intercourse, half said their sexual interest was low, and 42% were dissatisfied with their sex life. In comparison, these percentages were markedly greater than for postmenopausal women not receiving treatment for breast cancer. Furthermore, women taking tamoxifen for breast cancer also had low sexual interest and more pain with intercourse; however, they had significantly fewer difficulties than women taking aromatase inhibitors.
Unfortunately, effective treatment options for the sexual side effects of aromatase inhibitors are lacking, because, according to the study authors, too much estrogen may be absorbed from vaginal estrogen treatments. More intensive study of the causes of these sexual side effects is necessary so improvements can be made for breast cancer survivors’ quality of life in the future, study authors say.
Source: The North American Menopause Society.