In recent years, studies have revealed a startling disparity in how the medical sciences treat men and women. Most studies looking at different ailments and how to treat them involve men, which means that physicians often aren’t as well equipped to deal with female health issues compared to male health issues. One of these disparities is reflected in how cancer patients are counseled about the sexual side effects of cancer treatments.
Recent research efforts have uncovered significant differences in how male and female cancer patients receive counseling. In fact, the study found that most female cancer patients do not receive counseling about the potential sexual side effects of treatment once they begin cancer treatment. This is despite the fact that plenty of women tend to experience high rates of sexual dysfunction during cancer treatment, with 90% of women experiencing sexual dysfunction during Brachytherapy to treat genitourinary cancer compared to 6% of men.
Genitourinary cancers such as prostate and cervical cancer tend to affect reproductive organs and the urinary system. Brachytherapy is a type of internal radiation used to treat genitourinary cancers due to its effectiveness and high survival rates.
Only one in 10 women were asked about their sexual health while undergoing brachytherapy, while a whopping nine in 10 men with genitourinary cancer were asked about their sexual health.
The researchers analyzed the health data of 201 patients with prostate and cervical cancer who had been evaluated from 2010 to 2021. The participant group involved 126 women and 75 men. Participants were asked if they had received counseling regarding the sexual side effects of undergoing brachytherapy and whether they had experienced any sexual side effects.
Researchers found that physicians discussed sexual function with 13% of women and 89% of men during the initial consultation while no cervical cancer patients went through sexual health assessment via a patient-reported outcome (PRO) tool. According to the researchers, physicians tend to discuss male sexual dysfunction more often because there are more treatment options for patients with prostate cancer, while cervical cancer has limited treatment options. Men also have access to more tools or resources, such as implants and medications, that can help them beat sexual dysfunction.
They also say that this disparity may be because doctors are likely to be less comfortable discussing sexual health with female patients. Their study shows that even though brachytherapy causes side effects, female patients, often aren’t given the resources they need to deal with these side effects.
Counseling on sexual health is vital for all genders given that more treatment options for women are becoming available from many companies, such as Jupiter Wellness Inc. (NASDAQ: JUPW). Oncologists need to become more comfortable talking sexual health with women undergoing cancer treatment.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Jupiter Wellness Inc. (NASDAQ: JUPW) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/JUPW
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