Constructions of masculinity following prostatectomy-induced impotence

The Sexual Adjustment Process of Cancer Patients and Their Partners: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis

“…Second, there are articles following a ''restructuring theory'' during cancer (Beck et al, 2013;Boehmer & Babayan, 2004;Fergus et al, 2002;Gilbert et al, 2010Hartman et al, 2014;Juraskova et al, 2003;Oliffe, 2005;Ramirez et al, 2010;Ussher et al,2013;Walker & Robinson, 2011, 2012.Unlike the grief theory, where the patient and partner work through different emotional stages, in the restructuring pathway the patient andpartner sexually adjust tocancer more cognitively,by developinganewsexualparadigm.Flexibilityisthecentralconceptof this adjustment. This pathway is embedded in a social constructionist paradigm, which means there is a strong focus on the social and cultural forces-inherent to the social environment of a person-that shapes his or her experiences of sexuality.…”

“…When the articles follow the pathway of restructuring, the concepts inherent to the initial point of the sexual adaptation process during cancer were usually embedded in the dominant discourses of sexuality Oliffe, 2005;Ussher et al, 2013). These articles describe how partners and patients initially follow several dominant discourses about sexuality.…”

“…Another example is''the companionate model of marriage,''where regular intercourse is seen as the core affective bond and where there is cultural pressure to stay sexually active (Ramirez et al, 2010). There is also the discourse of''ageism,'' wheresexualityisrestrictedtoyoungadults (Oliffe,2005).Alast dominant discourse often described is that of masculinity or femininity, which reduces a woman's sexuality with her need to be romantically attached to a man, and positions the man as having a driving need for sexuality Oliffe, 2005;Ussher et al, 2013).…”

“…When they followed these discourses, the following patterns could be observed: Patients and partners had the idea that their sexuality could be normalized through techno-medicines such as operation tech-niques or assistive aids (e.g., Viagra, lubricants) (Boehmer & Babayan, 2004;Fergus et al, 2002;Oliffe, 2005;Ramirez et al, 2010;Ussher et al, 2013). Moreover, patients and partners did not discuss their sexuality with each other, as they had the idea that sex is something you do, not something you talk about (Gilbert et al, 2010).…”

The clinical communication and information challenges associated with the psychosexual aspects of prostate cancer treatment

“…For many, these side effects will 'be less acceptable than the disease itself' (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2014, p.117), causing chronic psychological distress (Wootten & Siddons, 2013), difficulties with body image, masculinity and self-esteem (Harrington, 2011;Oliffe, 2005), and impaired quality of current and future partner/marital relationships and sexual intimacy (Beck, Robinson & Carlson, 2009;Penson and Nelson, 2009; see also Tucker, Peters & Speer, 2016).…”