Sexual Counseling and Breast Cancer: A Systematic Analysis of the Predictive Effect on Women's Health Outcomes

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of model-based sexual counseling on the health of women diagnosed with breast cancer and those who have survived breast cancer. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using six databases, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Medline, covering all quantitative studies published up to December 15, 2024, that met the inclusion criteria. The keywords used were breast cancer, counseling models, ALLOW, PLISSIT, EX-PLISSIT, BETTER, GES, IMB, and ALARM. Results: Fifteen studies published between 2015 and 2024 were included, with a combined sample size of 1,350 participants. Sixteen distinct outcomes were reported regarding the positive impact of sexual counseling models on women’s health, including sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, dyspareunia, anxiety levels, overall quality of life, sexual distress, sexual quality of life, sexual functioning, sexual compatibility, body image, couple satisfaction, and treatment-related side effects. This systematic review concluded that sexual counseling using established models can effectively improve women’s health in those diagnosed with or surviving breast cancer. Conclusion and Recommendations: This review shows that interventions based on sexual counselling models not only improve sexual problems but also address a range of issues including side effects, marital adjustment and body image. Midwives, nurses and all health professionals providing primary care to women with breast cancer are advised to use appropriate sexual counselling models in their practice. Further research is needed to clarify the broader impact of model-based sexual counselling on women’s overall health.