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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more|.
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Some people go through chemotherapy without it having any effect their sex lives. Others find that their sex lives are affected in some way due to their chemotherapy.
Most changes that occur are temporary and shouldn’t have a long-term effect on your sex life|. There may be times when you feel too tired, or perhaps not strong enough for the level of physical activity you’re used to during sex. If the treatment is making you feel sick, you may not want to have sex at all for a while.
Remember that most side effects from chemotherapy| that affect your sex life, such as tiredness| or sickness|, will gradually wear off once your treatment is finished.
Anxiety may also play a part in putting you off sex. The anxiety may not be directly related to sex. You may be worried about your chances of surviving the cancer, how your family is coping with the illness, or about your finances. Stresses like these can easily push everything else, including sex, to the back of your mind.
There’s no medical reason to stop having sex at any time during your course of chemotherapy. It’s perfectly safe, and the chemotherapy drugs themselves will have no long-term physical effects on your ability to enjoy sex. Cancer can’t be passed on to your partner during sex, and sex won’t make the cancer worse.
It is thought that chemotherapy drugs can’t pass into semen or vaginal fluids. However, most hospitals advise people having chemotherapy to use condoms for a few days after their treatment.
It’s very important to use effective contraception when having chemotherapy, as the drugs might harm the baby if pregnancy occurs. For this reason, your doctor will advise you to use a reliable method of contraception (usually ‘barrier’ methods – such as condoms or the cap) throughout your treatment and for a few months afterwards.
If you’re taking the contraceptive pill, you need to check with your doctor if it’s all right for you to continue using it. The side effects of chemotherapy, such as sickness and diarrhoea|, can make the pill less effective.
It's not always easy to talk about sex, but it can help to know what effects the chemotherapy treatment may have on your sex life. Your doctor or nurse at the hospital should be able to tell you about this. If the idea of talking to them about these things is too embarrassing, you could contact our cancer support specialists|. They will talk through any concerns you may have.
It may also help to discuss your feelings and worries with your partner. Perhaps they could join you if you decide you want to talk to your doctor or nurse.
In some women, chemotherapy brings on an early menopause. This may cause symptoms such as dryness of the vagina and a decreased interest in sex. This can be very distressing, but there are things that can help.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can prevent or reduce menopausal symptoms. However, doctors have concerns about using it for women who have had breast cancer| or womb (endometrial) cancer|. Some doctors feel that HRT may increase the risk of these cancers coming back. It's important to talk this through with your specialist.
If you find sex uncomfortable because of vaginal dryness, your doctor may be able to prescribe a cream to help. You can also use KY Jelly® or other creams such as Replens® to moisten the vagina. These are available from your chemist without a prescription.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.