Study Finds 26% of Young Adult Cancer Survivors Sexually Inactive

Young adult survivors of childhood cancer experience impairing late effects of treatment, including disruptions to sexual activity and function. While research has begun examining sexual dysfunction in sexually active survivors, little is known about sexually inactive young adult survivors. A study published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship focuses on the needs of this specific group to inform the development of comprehensive sexual health screening and interventions.

The research, part of the Project REACH initiative, provides insights into the demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables associated with sexual inactivity in this population. The study enrolled 321 young adult childhood cancer survivors, defined as individuals aged between 18 and 39 years. These participants completed measures of physical and mental health, including specific indicators of sexual dysfunction.

The analyses examined relationships between sexual inactivity and a range of variables, including demographic characteristics, cancer history, physical health status, psychological well-being, and social living arrangements. By focusing on this specific cohort, the researchers aimed to address a gap in the literature regarding the needs of survivors who do not engage in sexual activity. The findings revealed that 84 participants, or 26 percent of the cohort, were classified as sexually inactive.

In univariate analysis, sexual inactivity was significantly positively associated with female sex, younger age (18–28), cancer diagnosis before age 10, central nervous system (CNS) tumor, lack of chemotherapy history, poor mental quality of life, being unmarried, and living with parents. These initial associations highlight the multifaceted nature of the factors related to sexual inactivity in this group. Adjusted analyses found that female sex (OR = 2.28), diagnosis before age 10 (OR = 3.25), CNS tumor (OR = 3.09), poor mental quality of life (OR = 2.11), and living with parents (OR = 2.97) were significantly associated with increased odds of sexual inactivity.

These adjusted findings indicate that both clinical history and psychosocial contexts are associated with sexual inactivity in this population. The odds ratios suggest that female survivors, those diagnosed before age 10, and those with CNS tumors had higher odds of being sexually inactive compared to others in the cohort. The study’s conclusions note that almost one-third of young adult childhood cancer survivors are sexually inactive.

This finding is concerning because existing sexual health measures were not designed for this vulnerable group. The researchers state that creating measures that capture the needs of sexually inactive young adult survivors is imperative. This is because even those sexually inactive by choice may have sexual health late effects that impact health more broadly.

The implications for cancer survivors are that barriers to screening sexually inactive survivors mean a large proportion of young adult survivors may experience concerns that are not being addressed. The study is a prospective cohort study that provides a snapshot of the associations between various factors and sexual inactivity in young adult childhood cancer survivors. However, the study provides valuable insights into the demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors associated with sexual inactivity in this population.

Subject of Research: Sexual inactivity in young adult survivors of childhood cancer

Article Title: Sexual inactivity in young adult survivors of childhood cancer: a Project REACH study

Article References: Chevalier, L. L., Burgers, D. E., Chordas, C. A., Recklitis, C. J., & Bober, S. L. (2026). Sexual inactivity in young adult survivors of childhood cancer: a Project REACH study. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-026-02142-x

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s11764-026-02142-x

Keywords: childhood cancer, sexual health, survivorship, late effects, young adults, quality of life, psychosocial factors, clinical research, sexual inactivity, Project REACH, Sexual, inactivity