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Dickstein DR, Edwards CR, Rowan CR, Avanessian B, Chubak BM, Wheldon CW, Simoes PK, Buckstein MH, Keefer LA, Safer JD, Sigel K, Goodman KA, Rosser BRS, Goldstone SE, Wong SY, Marshall DC. Pleasurable and problematic receptive anal intercourse and diseases of the colon, rectum and anus. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 21:377-405. [PMID: 38763974 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-024-00932-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
The ability to experience pleasurable sexual activity is important for human health. Receptive anal intercourse (RAI) is a common, though frequently stigmatized, pleasurable sexual activity. Little is known about how diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus and their treatments affect RAI. Engaging in RAI with gastrointestinal disease can be difficult due to the unpredictability of symptoms and treatment-related toxic effects. Patients might experience sphincter hypertonicity, gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety, altered pelvic blood flow from structural disorders, decreased sensation from cancer-directed therapies or body image issues from stoma creation. These can result in problematic RAI - encompassing anodyspareunia (painful RAI), arousal dysfunction, orgasm dysfunction and decreased sexual desire. Therapeutic strategies for problematic RAI in patients living with gastrointestinal diseases and/or treatment-related dysfunction include pelvic floor muscle strengthening and stretching, psychological interventions, and restorative devices. Providing health-care professionals with a framework to discuss pleasurable RAI and diagnose problematic RAI can help improve patient outcomes. Normalizing RAI, affirming pleasure from RAI and acknowledging that the gastrointestinal system is involved in sexual pleasure, sexual function and sexual health will help transform the scientific paradigm of sexual health to one that is more just and equitable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Dickstein
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Collin R Edwards
- Department of Radiology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Catherine R Rowan
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Bella Avanessian
- Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Barbara M Chubak
- Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher W Wheldon
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Public Health at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Priya K Simoes
- The Dr. Henry D. Janowitz Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael H Buckstein
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laurie A Keefer
- The Dr. Henry D. Janowitz Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joshua D Safer
- Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Keith Sigel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karyn A Goodman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - B R Simon Rosser
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Stephen E Goldstone
- Department of Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Serre-Yu Wong
- The Dr. Henry D. Janowitz Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deborah C Marshall
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Corrigan KL, Rooney MK, De B, Ludmir ED, Das P, Smith GL, Taniguchi C, Minsky BD, Koay EJ, Koong A, Morris VK, Messick CA, Nogueras-Gonzalez G, Holliday EB. Patient-reported sexual function in long-term survivors of anal cancer treated with definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy. Pract Radiat Oncol 2022; 12:e397-e405. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prro.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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