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Despite a higher incidence in women, most research focuses on men. Concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the gold standard of care in the curative setting. While the overall 5-year survival rate is about 70%, many women experience life-altering sequelae of treatment including those affecting sexual function and intimacy. This systematic review aims to identify and synthesise the patient-reported impacts of anal cancer treatment on female sexual function and intimacy.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>We searched five electronic databases: Medline, CINHAL, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Embase from database inception to 7th October 2024. Quantitative and qualitative studies reporting patient-reported sexual function and intimacy impacts following treatment for anal cancer were eligible. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. We used a narrative synthesis approach to analyse the findings.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>Of 338 abstracts retrieved, 26 articles reporting 25 quantitative studies met the eligibility criteria. Findings indicate that overall sexual function was negatively impacted with dyspareunia (pain\/discomfort during sex) and sexual function (including interest, arousal, and desire) among the most frequently assessed outcomes. Effects were shown to persist for at least 6-year post-treatment completion resulting in complete abstinence from sexual intercourse for many women.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>Concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy used in the treatment of anal cancer can have lasting effects on female sexual function and intimacy. The limited available evidence and large amounts of missing data suggest that the severity and extent of this problem are under-reported. Qualitative research may provide a more in-depth understanding.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00520-025-09791-1","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,14]],"date-time":"2025-08-14T22:35:29Z","timestamp":1755210929000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["The impact of anal cancer treatment on female sexuality and intimacy: a systematic review"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"33","author":[{"given":"M.","family":"Hayes","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"K.","family":"White","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"R. 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