Sexual Health and Women and Cancer

“It’s very important to talk with your cancer care team about what to expect, and continue to talk about what’s changing or has changed in your sexual life”.1

Umbrella
What may the Sexual Health and Women and Cancer Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cancer, Sex and Sexuality
  • Sexuality for the Woman With Cancer

Sex, Sexuality and Intimacy

How can having cancer and cancer treatment affect sex, sexuality and intimacy?

In Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Image]: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body [+ Images] the American Cancer Society (ACS) explain:

“Sex, sexuality, and intimacy are just as important for people with cancer as they are for people who don’t have cancer. In fact, sexuality and intimacy have been shown to help people face cancer by helping them deal with feelings of distress, and when going through treatment. But, the reality is that a person’s sex organs, sexual desire (sex drive or libido), sexual function, well-being, and body image can be affected by having cancer and cancer treatment. How a person shows sexuality can also be affected”.2

Sexual Side Effects

What sexual side effects are most common?

In Cancer Treatment for Women: Possible Sexual Side Effects – What Sexual Side Effects Are Most Common? the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

“The treatment you receive and your type and stage of cancer will determine whether you experience sexual side effects. The most commonly reported side effects among women include:

  • Difficulty reaching climax
  • Less energy for sexual activity
  • Loss of desire for sex
  • Pain during penetration
  • Reduced size of the vagina
  • Vaginal dryness

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”.3

Dyspareunia

What is dyspareunia?

In Women’s Wellness: Sexual Health After Cancer [+ Video] a Mayo Clinic general internal medicine physician elaborates on:

““Dyspareunia is the medical term for the pain that a lot of women will experience after cancer treatment, especially if their hormones have been affected. The loss of estrogen, specifically, often will result in changes in the vaginal mucosa,” Dr. Thielen explains. “The cells are not able to lubricate like they should, and we lose elasticity of those vaginal walls, too. So subsequently, there can be pain””.4

Step One

What is the first step in addressing how cancer and cancer treatment can affect sex, sexuality and intimacy?

In Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Images]: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body – The 1st Step: Good Communication the ACS elaborate on:

“The first step is to bring up the topic of sex with your doctor or someone on your partner and cancer care team. It’s very important to talk with your cancer care team about what to expect, and continue to talk about what’s changing or has changed in your sexual life as you go through procedures, treatments, and follow-up care. This includes letting them know what over-the-counter and prescription medications, vitamins, or supplements you may be taking because they might interfere with treatments”.5

Questions To Ask

What are some questions to ask?

In Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Images]: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body – Questions To Ask the ACS include:

Sexual Health and Women and Cancer

“You probably have certain questions and things you’re wondering about. Here are some you may want to ask your doctor or nurse these questions you can use to jump start talks with your cancer care team about having sex during and after treatment:

  • How might treatment affect my sex life?
  • Is it safe to have sex now? If not, when will it be OK to have sex?
  • Are there any types of sex I should avoid?
  • Do I need birth control or other protection during treatment? How about afterwards? For how long?
  • Can my medications or treatment be passed to my partner through my body fluids?
  • What safety measures do I need to take, and for how long? What birth control should I use? For how long?”6

Where may I find more questions to ask?

You may find more questions to ask in Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Images]: Questions Adult Females Have About Cancer and Sex.

Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) or Gender Non-Conforming

What if a person is lesbian, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) or gender non-conforming?

In Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Image]: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body the ACS note:

“If you are lesbian, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) or gender non-conforming, you may have needs that are not addressed here. It’s very important to talk to your cancer care team and give them information about your sexual orientation and gender identity, including what gender you were at birth, how you describe yourself now, any procedures you’ve had done, or hormone treatments you may have taken or are taking”.7

Partners

How may partners help?

In Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Images]: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body – The 3rd Step: Keep Talking and Work Together To Manage Problems the ACS elaborate on:

“…during and after cancer treatment, there may be times when the kind of sex you like best is not possible. Those times can be a chance to learn new ways to give and receive sexual pleasure. You and your partner can help each other reach orgasm through touching and stroking. At times, just cuddling can be pleasurable. You could also continue to enjoy touching yourself. Do not stop sexual pleasure just because your usual routine has been changed”.8

Health Care Provider

What if a person is not asked about their sexual health concerns?

If a person is not asked about their sexual health concerns, it may be in their best interest to choose to talk to their health care providers about this.

In Cancer Treatment for Women: Possible Sexual Side Effects – What Can You Do To Regain Sexual Function? the Mayo Clinic explain:

  • “Talk with your health care team. It can feel uncomfortable to talk about sexual side effects. Though talking about sex can be awkward, you’re not likely to find a solution if you don’t let someone know what you’re experiencing.Write down your questions if it makes you feel more comfortable. In addition, your doctor may be embarrassed or hesitant to talk about sex. If this is the case, ask to be referred to a specialist or seek support from other members of your health care team, such as nurses and counselors”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Sexual Health and Women and Cancer?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

  1. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  2. Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  3. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  4. Breast Cancer—Patient Version
  5. Breastcancer.org
  6. Cancer Treatment for Women: Possible Sexual Side Effects
  7. Cancer Types
  8. Caredownthere.com.au
  9. Changes In Your Sex Life
  10. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  11. Complementary Medicine Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  12. Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  13. Complementary and Herbal Therapies for Hot Flushes
  14. Consumer Health: Treating Vaginal Dryness After Menopause
  15. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  16. Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Women’s Profiles
  17. Fast Facts: HRT and Breast Cancer Risk
  18. HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  19. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  20. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  21. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives
  22. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  23. Hot Flashes: Manage Without Medication?
  24. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?
  25. How To Increase Your Sexual Desire During Menopause
  26. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
  27. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
  28. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  29. Managing Menopausal Symptoms—Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Not the Only Option!
  30. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video]
  31. Mayo Clinic Minute: Lifestyle Changes To Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  32. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Cancer Survivorship Needs Are Unique for Each Survivor [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  33. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Sexual Health After Cancer Treatment [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  34. Menopause
  35. Menopause
  36. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Who Shouldn’t Take It?
  37. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Menopause Medication Tracker
  38. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  39. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  40. Menopause – Multilingual Facts Sheet
  41. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
  42. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  43. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  44. Menopause: Non-Hormonal Treatment & Relief for Hot Flashes
  45. Menopause: Will It Affect My Sex Life? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  46. NAMS 2017 Position Statement Updates Guidelines for Hormone Therapy Use
  47. National Cancer Survivors Day [Sunday, June 06, 2021]
  48. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
  49. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  50. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  51. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  52. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
  53. Natural Therapies & Supplements
  54. Non-Hormonal Treatment Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  55. NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  56. OCCAM Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine [National Cancer Institute, United States]
  57. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
  58. Sexual Dysfunction After Cancer TreatmentPatty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health
  59. Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health: Guide To Sexual Health Providers
  60. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  61. Safety of Natural Therapies
  62. Self-Image and Sexuality
  63. Sex and Intimacy
  64. Sex and Menopause: Treatment for Symptoms
  65. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Images]
  66. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Images]: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body
  67. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Images]: How Hormone Therapy and Chemo Can Affect the Sex Life of Females with Cancer
  68. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Images]: How Radiation Therapy Can Affect the Sex Life of Females with Cancer
  69. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Images]: How Surgery Can Affect the Sex Lives of Woman With Cancer
  70. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Images]: Managing Female Sexual Problems Related to Cancer
  71. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer [+ Images]: Questions Adult Females Have About Cancer and Sex
  72. Sexual Advice Association [United Kingdom]
  73. Sexual Difficulties In the Menopause
  74. Sexual Dysfunction Hits Some Women Harder Than Others As They Age
  75. Sexual Dysfunction In Female Cancer Survivors: Addressing the Problems and the Remedies
  76. Sexual Health
  77. Sexual Health Issues In Women With Cancer
  78. Sexuality and Metastatic Breast Cancer
  79. Staying Healthy During and After Cancer Treatment
  80. Supporting Women Through Menopause – Fact Sheet
  81. The Center for Intimacy After Cancer Therapy, Inc.,
  82. The Menopause: Sexual Wellbeing and Intimacy During and After the Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life]
  83. The Menopause: Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
  84. The Unmet Needs of Cancer Patients Regarding Sexual Health
  85. Urogenital Atrophy Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  86. Using HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)
  87. Vaginal Dryness
  88. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  89. Video Series-2019: Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness In Survivors of Breast Cancer and In Those With A High Risk of Breast Cancer
  90. Video Series-2021: Common Issues Surrounding Sexuality and Menopause
  91. Video Series-2021: Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Issues
  92. Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
  93. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  94. Videos and Podcasts: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: Is Testosterone the Answer To Low Libido?
  95. Videos and Podcasts: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: The Menopause Blues
  96. Vulvovaginal Symptoms After Menopause
  97. Webinars: Previous – Breast Cancer
  98. Webinars: Previous – The Early Menopausal Patient
  99. What Is Cancer?
  100. Women’s Wellness: Sexual Health After Cancer Treatment [+ Video]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted:

Sources

  1. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body. Last Revised: 06 February 2020. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/fertility-and-sexual-side-effects/sexuality-for-women-with-cancer/cancer-sex-sexuality.html Accessed: 20 March 2022
  2. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body. Last Revised: 06 February 2020. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/fertility-and-sexual-side-effects/sexuality-for-women-with-cancer/cancer-sex-sexuality.html Accessed: 20 March 2022
  3. Cancer Treatment for Women: Possible Sexual Side Effects – What Sexual Side Effects Are Most Common? 06 June 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-treatment/art-20047214 Accessed: 20 March 2022
  4. Women’s Wellness: Sexual Health After Cancer Treatment. 11 March 2020. Mayo Clinic https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/womens-wellness-sexual-health-after-cancer-treatment/ Accessed: 20 March 2022
  5. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body – The 1st Step: Good Communication. Last Revised: 06 February 2020. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/fertility-and-sexual-side-effects/sexuality-for-women-with-cancer/cancer-sex-sexuality.html Accessed: 20 March 2022
  6. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body – Questions To Ask. Last Revised: 06 February 2020. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/fertility-and-sexual-side-effects/sexuality-for-women-with-cancer/cancer-sex-sexuality.html Accessed: 20 March 2022
  7. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body. Last Revised: 06 February 2020. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/fertility-and-sexual-side-effects/sexuality-for-women-with-cancer/cancer-sex-sexuality.html Accessed: 20 March 2022
  8. Sex and the Adult Female With Cancer: Cancer, Sex, and the Female Body – The 3rd Step: Keep Talking and Work Together To Manage Problems. Last Revised: 06 February 2020. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/fertility-and-sexual-side-effects/sexuality-for-women-with-cancer/cancer-sex-sexuality.html Accessed: 20 March 2022
  9. Cancer Treatment for Women: Possible Sexual Side Effects – What Can You Do To Regain Sexual Function? 06 June 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-treatment/art-20047214 Accessed: 20 March 2022

Topic Last Updated: 29 July 2022 – Topic Last Reviewed: 20 March 2022
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