Sexual side-effects of cancer treatment
Cancer treatment can result in a number of sexual side effects that may affect your desire or ability to be intimate or have sex.
About sexual side-effects of cancer treatment
When it comes to sex and sexuality, cancer treatment can affect you both physically and mentally. Many things can affect your desire to be intimate and have sex, as well as your enjoyment of sex. These may include:
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Pain or discomfort
- Stress, anxiety or depression
- Changes to your hormone levels
- Changes to the appearance of your body, such as hair loss, scarring or having part of your body removed
- Physical changes that may make it more difficult to have sex, such as difficulty maintaining an erection or vaginal narrowing/shortening
Read more about sexual side-effects for women and people assigned female at birth.
Read more about sexual side-effects for men and people assigned male at birth.
You and your partner
Any changes to your sex life can affect both you and your partner. It can help if you can work through any problems together.
Keeping the lines of communication open can help to avoid misunderstandings and bad feelings. For example, your partner may feel rejected or take it personally if you don’t want to have sex. If you can explain how you’re feeling, it can make things easier. Try to listen to how your partner feels about everything. They will be affected by your cancer diagnosis too.
You may not feel ready or able to have sex yet, but you can still be close with your partner. Kissing, hugging and touching each other can help you to feel closer.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you have side-effects or physical problems that are making things difficult. They can recommend treatments to help.
You could also consider speaking to a professional who can help you through this time. The Irish Cancer Society funds free counselling for patients and their partners. Call 1800 200 700 for more information.
You can also find psychologists, counsellors and psychotherapists who specialise in issues such as relationships, sex and infertility at the addresses below. These professionals charge a fee.
- The Psychological Society of Ireland(www.psychologicalsociety.ie)
- The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (www.iacp.ie)
We have more advice on managing sexual relationships after a cancer diagnosis.
Getting support
If you’re worried about how treatment will affect your sex life, ask your medical team about this before treatment.
If your sex life has been affected, give yourself time to recover and don’t rush into sex if you don’t feel ready. It’s a common problem and there are lots of supports and treatments available to help you with your sex life.
Try not to be shy or embarrassed bout talking to your medical team about your sex life - they’re used to talking about these things.
Our booklet, Understanding sex, sexuality and cancer, provides information on issues around sex and sexuality when you have cancer. It includes information on the sexual side-effects of treatment, the impact of cancer on relationships and when you're LGBTQIA+. Call our Support Line for a free copy or download it here
Getting emotional support
Counselling
It may help to talk openly to a counsellor about how you’re feeling. The Irish Cancer Society funds free one-to one counselling online and through many local cancer support centres. You can also contact our cancer nurses, who can help you to find a sexual counsellor, if you feel you need extra support.
Irish Cancer Society cancer nurses
You can talk to one of our cancer nurses in confidence by calling our Support Line on 1800 200 700, by emailing supportline@irishcancer.ie or by visiting your local Daffodil Centre.
Talk to a Cancer Nurse
Support Line
Our Daffodil Centres
