Sexual health behaviors and contraceptive practices among Canadian childhood, adolescent, and young adult…

Cohort studyCancer· Aug 2026

Sexual health behaviors and contraceptive practices among Canadian childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors and controls.

Ismay A E de Beijer, Selina R van den Oever, Oluwaseyi A Lawal … Fiona S M Schulte

Family Planning & ContraceptionCohort studyClinical practiceQ1IF 4.3

Cancer survivors have far higher odds of not being sexually active than controls

Sexual health behaviors and contraceptive practices among Canadian childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors and controls.

Ismay A E de Beijer … Fiona S M Schulte

Cancer · Aug 2026

Background

Sexual health, central to overall well-being, remains under assessed in childhood, adolescent and young adult (CAYA) cancer survivorship.

Purpose

This study examined sexual health outcomes among CAYA cancer survivors using repeated assessments collected as part of routine survivorship care and compared these outcomes with population-based controls.

Methods

Survivors completed one to six assessments on sexual activity, concerns about sex life, and contraceptive and condom use.

n = 305

Results

survivors were far more likely to not be sexually active than peers

OR 7.18 (95% CI 5.73 to 8.99)

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

Being in a relationship predicted sexual activity (Bayesian OR, 1806.83; 95% Credible Interval [CrI], 255.08-20,535.08).

Within survivors, older age (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.20-0.85) and higher treatment intensity (OR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.00-0.47) were negatively associated with birth control use.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

CAYA cancer survivors demonstrate less sexual activity and condom use than controls. Higher treatment intensity is associated with less birth control use, suggesting potential misaligned fertility perceptions.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Survivorship programs should integrate structured sexual health counselling.

Sexual health behaviors and contraceptive practices among Canadian childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors and controls.

Sexual health behaviors and contraceptive practices among Canadian childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors and controls.

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