Sexual functioning is an important element of quality of life. Many @entity1 experience @entity458 as a result of a @entity0 diagnosis and its treatment. Little is known about the availability and the effectiveness of interventions for @entity458 in this @entity1 population. Six electronic databases were searched using Medical Subject Headings and keywords. Additional hand searching of the references of relevant papers was also conducted. The searches were conducted between October 2010 and January 2011. Papers were included if they evaluated interventions for @entity458 caused as a result of @entity0 or its treatment. Studies were only included if sexual functioning was reported using a @entity1 -reported outcome questionnaire. Studies were excluded if sexual functioning was measured but improving @entity458 was not one of the main aims of the intervention. 3514 papers were identified in the initial search. 21 papers were selected for inclusion. Studies were of mixed methodological quality; 15 randomised trials were identified, many included small sample sizes and the use of non-validated questionnaires. Three main types of interventions were identified: Exercise (2), medical (2) and psycho-educational (17). The psycho-educational interventions included skills-based training such as problem-solving and communication skills, counselling, hypnosis, education and specific sex-therapies. Interventions were delivered to individual @entity1 , @entity1 and their partners (couple-based) and groups of @entity1 . The widespread methodological variability hinders the development of a coherent picture about which interventions work for whom. Tentative findings suggest the most effective interventions are couple-based psycho-educational interventions that include an element of sexual therapy. More methodologically strong research is needed before any intervention can be recommended for clinical practice. Improved screening and classification of @entity458 will ensure interventions can be more effectively targeted to suit individual @entity1 needs.

Interventions for XXXX following treatment for @entity0 : a systematic review.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity0 :: ('MESH:D001943', 'Disease') :: ['breast cancer'] @entity458 :: ('MESH:D020018', 'Disease') :: ['sexual problems']
@entity458 :: (MESH:D020018,Disease) :: ['sexual problems']
