For many women, this includes resuming sexual intimacy.

But sexual side effects of cancer treatment can make resuming sex more difficult.

But having cancer also affects your emotions, no matter what jot down of cancer you have.

For instance, you may feel anxious and worn out about your diagnosis, your treatment or your prognosis.

These emotions can also affect your attitude toward sex and intimacy with your partner.

The most commonly reported side effects among women include:

Not all women will experience these side effects.

Your doctor can give you an idea of whether your specific treatment will cause any of these.

Cancer treatments that are more likely to cause sexual side effects include the following.

Many women experience a loss of libido during and after chemotherapy.

Side effects usually fade soon after treatment ends.

But it may take time to rebuild your self-confidence to bring back your desire for sex.

Chemotherapy can cause a sudden loss of estrogen production in your ovaries.

Topical estrogen creams applied to the vaginal area also can be used.

Many of these conditions may respond to treatments that do not use hormones.

Chemotherapy can also damage tissues in your body, including the vagina.

This damage can cause sores and may increase your risk of infection.

It can also cause fatigue or increased bleeding.

Sexual side effects related to radiation therapy are most common in women receiving treatment to the pelvic area.

Damaged ovaries don’t produce estrogen.

This causes menopause and its related signs and symptoms, such as vaginal dryness or hot flashes.

If you’ve already been through menopause, you likely won’t experience such symptoms.

Changes in the vaginal lining.Radiation therapy can irritate healthy tissue in its path.

This can cause the lining of your vagina to become inflamed and tender.

Penetration during sex may be uncomfortable during treatment and for a few weeks afterward.

Your doctor might recommend using a vaginal dilator to prevent scar tissue from forming after radiation.

Talk to your doctor about what you could expect from your specific radiation treatments.

Some side effects may be preventable.

Ask your doctor about your options.

A shortened vagina usually doesn’t change your ability to have sex, though it may take some adjustment.

The surgeon may also remove the ovaries during this procedure.

If you’re premenopausal when your ovaries are removed, you’ll experience menopause.

Your surgeon reconstructs your vagina, though it may be shorter or narrower than it was before surgery.

This can make sex painful.

If you haven’t been through menopause, removal of your ovaries will cause menopause.

Abdominoperineal (AP) resection.AP resection may be used if you have colon or rectal cancer.

Your surgeon removes your lower colon and rectum.

Without the cushion of the rectum, you might experience pain in your vagina during penetration.

Some women who have an AP resection also have their ovaries removed.

If you’re premenopausal, this will cause premature menopause.

Vulvectomy.You may undergo vulvectomy if you have cancer of the vulva.

Your surgeon removes the entire vulva, including the inner and outer lips, as well as the clitoris.

These play a major part in sexual arousal in women.

Wearing an ostomy bag may make you feel self-conscious and unattractive.

Ostomy therapists and specialized clothing can help boost your self-confidence.

Removing your ovaries causes permanent menopause.

Side effects of hormone therapy medications usually wear off after you stop taking them.

Women taking hormone therapy for cancer usually take these drugs for five years or more.

This will help you feel more in control and help guide you to treatment options.

Write down your questions if it makes you feel more comfortable.

In addition, your doctor may be embarrassed or hesitant to talk about sex.

Together you may find solutions to ease you back into a fulfilling sex life.

Explore other ways of being intimate.Intercourse isn’t the only option for closeness with your partner.

Consider spending more time together talking, cuddling or caressing.

Otherwise, connect with other cancer survivors online.

If you’re embarrassed about discussing sex face to face with strangers, the online environment provides you anonymity.

Start with the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Survivors connection.

It may simply take time for you to regain your sexual function after cancer treatment.

Updated: 6/6/2020

Publication Date: 5/11/2001