New Zealand’s best minds take on major gap in prostate cancer care
In New Zealand, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.
Did you know that prostate cancer treatment impacts sex and intimacy? In fact, it’s one of the most common issues that men with prostate cancer face.
In medical terms, it can be known as “sexual function”. One UK study found that 8 in 10 men with prostate cancer reported their sexual function as poor or very poor. But less than half (45%) were offered any type of support.
This can take a toll on mental health and relationships, with studies showing men are more likely to experience increased depression/anxiety, loss of sex drive, loss of self-esteem, and not ‘feeling like a man’¹.
We’re determined to change this. Here’s how.
World-first guidelines for clinicians
In 2022, Movember worked with international experts to launch the world’s first playbook for clinicians providing sexual healthcare for people with prostate cancer: Clinical Guidelines for Sexual Health and Prostate Cancer.
The guidelines set a new standard of excellence, providing 47 recommendations on how to treat patients and partners using biomedical therapies, psychological intervention and social supports.
But simply creating guidelines doesn't solve the problem. We need to make sure the right people know they exist and can put them to use in their clinic.
Uniting the country’s best minds
In February 2025, we brought together 14 of New Zealand’s healthcare experts to see how we could get more clinicians to use the guidelines. Because when they do, more men and partners will get the care they need.
In simple terms, the first recommendation in the guidelines states that clinicians should ask the question: “How important is sex and intimacy to you?”
Through an intensive workshop, our nation’s top experts unpacked the reasons why conversations about sexual health weren’t always the norm and brainstormed ideas to get more cancer experts to ‘ask the question’ in New Zealand. In the room were urologists, clinical nurse specialists, a health psychologist, radiation therapist, advocacy group leader and sex therapist.
Forming an expert team
The workshop was a key step on our mission to make sexual healthcare a non-negotiable for all clinicians seeing men with prostate cancer and their partners.
But changing healthcare systems takes time. And teamwork. To help us build a long-term action plan, we’re proud to announce our first ever Sexual Health Advisory Group:
- Mr Jim Duthie, Urologist
- Ms Teresa Akapita, Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Ms Sarah McCambridge, Health Psychologist – Cancer
- Ms Jenny Corban, Urology Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Ms Liz Childs, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
- Mr Andy Holmes, Lived Experience Advisor
- Mr Chris Graham, Movember’s Aotearoa Indigenous Programs Manager
This expert group will guide Movember's work to boost uptake of the guidelines across New Zealand.
What this means for men?
We want men and their partners to know that all prostate cancer treatments will lead to changes in their sex life – but there are many ways their care team can support them.
And while we work to influence healthcare settings, we’re also proud to offer free, credible online resources designed for men and their partners.
If you, or someone you know, is navigating prostate cancer and wants to know more about how it impacts sex, check out Movember True North.
[1] Kinnaird, W., Schartau, P., Kirby, M., Jenkins, V., Allen, S., & Payne, H. (2025). Sexual dysfunction in prostate cancer patients according to disease stage and treatment modality. Clinical Oncology, 41, 103801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clon.2025.103801