Development and validation of a guideline on sexual and reproductive health of breast cancer survivors in Iran: a mixed methods study protocol

BACKGROUND: Sexual and reproductive health problems significantly decrease quality of life in survivors of breast cancer. The best approach is to provide services according to evidence-based guidelines developed based on their practical context. Here, we aim to develop and validate a guideline on the sexual and reproductive health of breast cancer survivors in Iran. METHODS: The guideline will be developed and validated using an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach in three phases: (1) describing sexual and reproductive health needs of survivors of breast cancer in Iran and the health services they receive in this regard, (2) performing a systematic review of existing guidelines, resources, and documents on the sexual and reproductive health of breast cancer survivors worldwide, and (3) developing and validating a guideline on the sexual and reproductive health of women who survived breast cancer in Iran based on the results of phases 1 and 2 through multiple steps. DISCUSSION: A comprehensive and practical guideline on the sexual and reproductive health of breast cancer survivors in Iran will be developed which will be compatible with their specific needs and culture, considering the limited resources available. This guideline can significantly improve the quality of life in breast cancer survivors in Iran. In addition, the approach we will use here can be utilized to develop guidelines on sexual and reproductive health of female cancer survivors in general.