perhaps nothing you didn't already figureout yourselves,but..sexual dysfunction w AIs
 

seems to be more prevalent and severe than they thought

Menopause. 2012 Sep 17. [Epub ahead of print]
Sexual dysfunction in women on adjuvant endocrine therapy after
breast cancer.
Baumgart J, Nilsson K, Evers AS, Kallak TK, Poromaa IS.
From the 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden; Schools of 2School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Sweden and 3School of Medicine, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; and 4Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to investigate sexual function in postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors.
METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among postmenopausal breast cancer patients on adjuvant endocrine treatment and age-matched controls with and without estrogen treatment. Sexual function was assessed with a standardized questionnaire.
RESULTS: In all, 42.4% of aromatase inhibitor-treated breast cancer patients were dissatisfied with their sex life in general, and 50.0% reported low sexual interest; this was significantly more common than in tamoxifen-treated patients and controls (P < 0.05). Aromatase inhibitor-treated patients reported insufficient lubrication in 73.9% and dyspareunia in 56.5% of cases, which were significantly more common than in controls, irrespective of hormonal use (P < 0.05). Tamoxifen-treated patients reported significantly more dyspareunia (31.3%; P < 0.05) but resembled controls in all other concerns.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that sexual dysfunction in aromatase inhibitor-treated women is a greatly underestimated problem.
PMID: 22990756

Re: perhaps nothing you didn't already figureout yourselves,but..sexual dysfunction w
 

I think any of us who are either on AIs, or were, should print this up and hand it to our onc., gyn., even our GP at our next visit.

Trust me, if the shoe was on the other foot and men were having these issues, I think the medical community would do a lot more to help.

all the best
caya

Re: perhaps nothing you didn't already figureout yourselves,but..sexual dysfunction w
 

Thanks Lani and personally this has been an issue for me but I try to remind myself I'm alive and doing well seven years on so can't have it all???

Re: perhaps nothing you didn't already figureout yourselves,but..sexual dysfunction w
 

Caya, maybe we should print it out for our significant others, too!

Keep the faith.

Re: perhaps nothing you didn't already figureout yourselves,but..sexual dysfunction w
 

I was on an AI for 5 years and had no interest in sex whatsoever. My husband really suffered. When I quit the AI, my libido came back. So there's hope. Unfortunately, my periods came back too (after quitting Zoladex) at age 50. So 3 years on I'm wondering when menopause will really kick in and whether that will have an impact on my libido as well.

Jacqueline

Re: perhaps nothing you didn't already figureout yourselves,but..sexual dysfunction w
 

I raised the issue multiple times with both my PCP and my oncologist at clinic visits.

Result?

I have copies of all clinic notes of those visits and there is absolutely no mention by the clinician indicating any such problem was reported by me.

Moral:

If it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist. If it doesn't exist, it isn't a problem -- or at least, for the clinicians.... and so it doesn't have to be dealt with by anyone except those dealing personally with treatment.

If it isn't a problem for clinicians, it is less likely that any helpful solutions will be explored.

A.A.

Re: perhaps nothing you didn't already figureout yourselves,but..sexual dysfunction w
 

Yep, pretty much a "duh."