From Unmet Needs to Action: The Development of the Guidelines for Sexual Health Care in Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with advancements in screening and treatment leading to higher survival rates. However, these treatments often come with significant side effects, particularly sexual dysfunction, which profoundly impacts patients’ quality of life and that of their partners. Despite being one of the most commonly reported unmet needs among prostate cancer survivors, sexual health care is not consistently integrated into oncology settings, and access to specialized sexual medicine varies greatly across regions.
Recognizing this critical gap, Movember funded the development of The Guidelines for Sexual Health Care for the Prostate Cancer Patient , providing evidence-based recommendations to standardize oncosexology practices and ensure that sexual health care becomes an integral part of prostate cancer treatment and survivorship.
While the creation of the Guidelines marks a significant achievement, their success depends on effective dissemination and implementation in clinical practice. Research shows that without targeted knowledge translation efforts, guidelines often fail to impact patient care meaningfully. To address this, ISSM and Movember are committed to a strategic dissemination initiative, beginning with the implementation of Recommendation #1: clinician-initiated discussions about the sexual side effects of prostate cancer treatment.
By equipping healthcare providers with the necessary knowledge, training, and resources, this initiative aims to normalize and prioritize conversations about sexual health in oncology, ultimately improving outcomes for patients and their partners.
