Our Mission

• The Onco-Sexology Program affirms that sexuality and sexual health are core and essential components of sexual and reproductive health and rights of cancer patients and their partners. Cancer patients and survivors have the right to a healthy and satisfying sexual life.

• The Onco-sexology program provides clinical treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and patient education , for both women and men with cancer, to enhance, maintain and promote sexual health during and after illness.

Our Vision

• The Onco-Sexology Program aims to integrate sexual health in the treatment plan of oncology patients and to promote and advance the sexual health of individuals and their partners in their health and illness conditions.

• As sexual and reproductive health and rights advocates, we aim to make sexual health an integral part of the medical treatment approach in the field of Oncology for patients and their partners.

In coordination with the Naef K. Basile cancer Institute, the Onco-Sexology Program will provide counseling and clinical services for both women and men, upon diagnosis, during treatment unto survivorship. Our multidisciplinary team aims to maintain, promote, and enhance sexuality and sexual health, providing care to patients/partners in the various domains of sexual dysfunction.

• Sex education, psychoeducation, and counseling: Addressing concerns related to cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship, changes in pelvic and genital anatomy and physiology, perception of sexuality, body image, self- identity, partner communication, sexual behavior. This can be offered to individuals, couples, and as group therapy.

• Integrated medical management of symptoms: Including a wide range of medications and interventions to address issues such as: lack of sexual interest/arousal, lack of sexual pleasure and satisfaction, low sexual desire, sexual frequency, lack of lubrication, painful sex (dysparunia), erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation. Therapy approaches include: mechanical therapy (pelvic floor exercises, vaginal dilators), pharmacologic and non- pharmacologic agents (lubricant, moisturizers, local estrogen therapy, hormonal therapy, Vitamin E, androgens, Aqueous lidocaine, Phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors, upcoming formulas).

• Psychosexual therapy: Cognitive behavior therapy namely psychotherapy that helps recognize and change perceptions, thoughts and behaviors, art therapy, group support, couples’ therapy and mindfulness strategies.

Our team is multidisciplinary and includes a gynecologist/sexual health specialist, clinical sexologist and an affiliated psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, urologist, and oncology nurses.

Faysal El Kak, MD, MS

Clinical Associate, Department of Obstetrics Gynecology

Obstetrics Gynecology- Sexual Health- Female sexual dysfunction

Director – WISH Program

fk01@aub.edu.lb

Sandrine Atallah, MD, EFS/ESSM

Clinical associate, Department of Obstetrics Gynecology

Clinical Sexology

sa223@aub.edu.lb

Bassel Bachir, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Division of Urology – Department of Surgery

bb12@aub.edu.lb

Brigitte Khoury, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry

Director Psychology Training Program

Bk03@aub.edu.lb

Farid Talih, MD

Assistant Professor  – Department of Psychiatry

Adult Psychiatry

Ft10@aub.edu.lb

• If you have recently been diagnosed with cancer, are going through cancer treatment, are a survivor, or are going through cancer care transitions, and experiencing sexuality and sexual health problems or concerns, the Onco-Sexology program is the right program to assist you and your partner in dealing with them.

• Its interventions and healthcare professionals provide patients/partners with a comprehensive treatment and coping plan to better adjust to the impact of the cancer disease trajectory on your intimate life and sexual health.

• The Onco-Sexology Program provides timely, early, and regular comprehensive provision of up-to-date sexual health interventions to alleviate sexual dysfunction and enhance sexual health and wellbeing.

• We strive to provide patients with a holistic collaborative treatment plan that is tailored to the unique needs and experience of the patient and the couple’s sexual health.

• Whether you have been newly diagnosed or have completed treatment, if you are seeking information on how to best cope with cancer, intimacy and sexuality: Please consult our patient education information below specifically prepared to help patients handle this aspect of dealing with the disease.

• In line with the psycho-social aspect of cancer care, the Naef K. Basile Institute actively fosters the development of awareness resources on managing cancer in order to help patients navigate disease as best possible and strengthen its supportive care approach.

• At our dedicated Patient Information Material page you will find various resources designed to enlighten patients about general care topics ranging from prevention, screening to implantable ports and disease information on bladder, lung, prostate, pancreatic and testicular cancer.

Intimacy and cancer:

VIEW ALL INFORMATION MATERIAL

The Onco-Sexology Program is located at AUBMC, Phase 1, 7th floor, at the Women Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Program, Maamari St. To contact us, please call: +961-1-749 209.