Sexual problems during the first 2 years of adjuvant treatment with aromatase inhibitors.

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction has only recently been recognized as a highly prevalent side effect of adjuvant aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy for breast cancer.

Aims: A cross-sectional survey using standardized measures of female sexual function was designed to provide a detailed view of sexual problems during the first 2 years of adjuvant AI therapy and secondarily to examine whether sexual dysfunction leads to nonadherence to this therapy.

Methods: Questionnaires were mailed to all 296 women in a breast oncology registry who had been prescribed a first-time AI for localized breast cancer 18-24 months previously.