Chemically-induced menopause and the sexual functioning of breast cancer survivors

Most premenopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer receive adjuvant chemotherapy or tamoxifen. These treatments help to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer but have potentially permanent menopausal side-effects, termed chemically-induced menopause (CIM). Following a diagnosis of breast cancer and subsequent treatment, CIM and its associated side-effects may represent additional stressors for women. Thirty women participated in interviews regarding the impact of CIM on their sexual functioning. Participants were also asked about the emotional impact of these sexual changes. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a thematic analysis technique that was informed by the constant comparison method of grounded theory. Themes emerged regarding women's experiences of: (a) the sexual changes following treatment; (b) the emotional impact of sexual changes; and, (c) moderators of the negative impact of these sexual changes. Implications are discussed with regard to counseling and current health care practices.