Effectiveness of sexual counseling on the quality of life of cancer patients

Introduction: Emotional The sexual health of individuals with cancer can be impacted by the symptoms of the disease and treatment side effects, as well as the emotional burden from physical changes and fear of death. These factors can undermine interpersonal relationships. Sexual health issues remain problematic for individuals undergoing treatments that alter their physiology even years later. Aim: To analyze the impact of sexual counseling as a nursing intervention on the quality of life of oncology patients. Methods: A bibliographic review was conducted, identifying articles published between 2019 and 2024 in English and Spanish from PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases. Epistemonikos was used as a metasearch engine, and Cochrane as a source for systematic reviews. The studies were evaluated independently. Results: Five out of seven reviewed articles were included, all of which were randomized controlled trials. The total population included 193 men and 934 women, showing a correlation between treatment side effects, sexual health, and quality of life. Three studies confirmed that sexual counseling by nursing staff improved interpersonal relationships, reduced anxiety levels, and increased sexual satisfaction. However, two studies did not show significant evidence regarding the impact of sexual counseling on quality of life compared to the control group. Conclusions: Scientific evidence suggests that nursing should take responsibility for guiding and advising oncology patients on sexual issues that may arise during or after their illness.