Changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women with breast cancer: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) in women can bring various problems to their marital and family life. Sexual life based on the experiences of the husbands of women diagnosed with BC has not been fully understood. Therefore, this research aimed to explore changes and challenges in sexual life experienced by the husbands of women diagnosed with BC. METHODS: A qualitative research was carried out on 18 men whose wives had been diagnosed with BC at reproductive age. They were selected using purposeful sampling and were interviewed using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Collected data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method. RESULTS: ‘Sexual life suspension’ was the main theme of this research. Also, ‘unfulfilled sexual expectations’, ‘perceived barriers to satisfy sexual expectations’, and ‘efforts to adapt to sexual problems’ were subthemes. CONCLUSIONS: The husbands of women with BC need support to improve their sexual and marital relationships. Education and counseling about sexual life during the treatment of BC should be incorporated into the healthcare program. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12905-022-01906-8.