Recommendation

Supportive Participant Comments

Informational Sessions

There should be a designated person on the health team for that kind of counseling.

I think that before you start your treatment you ought to have a special somebody to talk about these things and then after and then maybe along down the road check in again, as long as you need counseling about it. Plus some pamphlets with detailed information.

To understand what is going on with your body—really understanding why and how and what this has done to your body because when I came into this, I didn’t know my sex life was going to change. I mean, there was no alternative, we had to do it, but still I didn’t know that and that took me by surprise.

If there is a man involved the staff should be as attentive to him as the woman even though she is the patient. I think he needs to know just what she knows.

Something that involves both of them, classes for her and classes for him to also know what to expect.

Support Group Sessions

To talk to somebody who knows what you are talking about—who has been through it and, you know, you could kind of lean on each other.

Couples groups—so he can see others having same issues—and know that it is not just me not wanting him…

Visual aids, like anatomic models, sex toys you can look at and touch, And I would have someone talking, someone to give their point of view on what happened when you had sex for the first time or what did you do when you didn’t have a desire to have sex?

Or if someone from [a store with sexual aids] or something could come in and say, “OK this is what I have,” or “I suggested someone with cervical cancer use this and they did and it worked great for them, etc.”

Separate sessions and couple sessions. I would say all the ladies and then all the partners to see how the partners feel and if it worked out pretty good then bring them together.

It’s important to give “permission”—for us to know that it is OK to please yourself.