Irish women diagnosed with gynaecological cancer do not receive enough advice on the potential effects of the disease on sexuality, a new study has found.

Researchers in University College Cork set out to investigate the impact of this type of cancer on sexuality. They interviewed eight women who had been affected by the disease and found that none had received any information about the potential effects on their sex lives.

The study noted that this was not a big problem in the early days of the disease, when patients were more concerned with their treatment and life and death issues.

However, once they had entered the recovery phase, it became much more important.

The researchers pointed out that the issue of sexuality was seen as more than just the act of intercourse.

"It had a deeper meaning and was concerned with attitude, femininity, appearance and relationships," they explained.

To this end, the disease and its treatment had an effect not only on the frequency of sex, but also on the level of affection and intimacy between the women and their partners.

Despite these issues, the women received ‘no information from any member of their healthcare team'.

"There was a sense of frustration and anger that healthcare professionals neglected to address this fundamental issue," the researchers said.

The women underlined the need for health staff to provide ‘verbal and written information and support relating to sexual matters'. They said that this would be best provided during the treatment period, rather than at the time of diagnosis.

"Providing patients with required information should be the first step in sexual rehabilitation," the researchers insisted.

The team pointed out that there are no information booklets on cancer and sexuality published in Ireland, although detailed information is available from Macmillan Cancer Support in the UK.

Details of these findings are published in the UK journal, Cancer Nursing Practice.