
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Sexual Changes - Women
Some types of chemotherapy can cause sexual changes. Chemotherapy may damage the ovaries, which can cause changes in hormone levels. Hormone changes can lead to problems like vaginal dryness and early menopause.
Sexual changes during chemotherapy largely depend on whether you have had problems before, the type of chemotherapy you are getting, your age, and whether you have any other illnesses. Some problems, such as loss of interest in sex, are likely to improve at the end of chemotherapy.
Symptoms of Menopause (for Women not yet in Menopause) Include:
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Feeling irritable
- Irregular or no menstrual periods
- Bladder or vaginal infections
- Vaginal discharge or itching
- Being too tired to have sex or not being interested in having sex
- Feeling too worried, stressed, or depressed to have sex
Talk with your doctor or nurse about:
- Ask your doctor or nurse if it is okay for you to have sex during chemotherapy. Most women can have sex, but it is a good idea to ask.
- Birth control. It is important that you not get pregnant while having chemotherapy.
- Chemotherapy may damage the foetus, especially in the first three months of pregnancy. If you have not gone through menopause, talk with your doctor or nurse about birth control and ways to keep from falling pregnant.
- Talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about medications that helps with sexual problems. These include products to relieve vaginal dryness or a vaginal cream or suppository to reduce the chance of infection.
Ways to manage sexual changes:
- Be open and honest with your partner. Talk about your feelings and concerns.
- Explore new ways to show love. You and your spouse may want to show your love for each other in new ways while you go through chemotherapy. For instance, if you are having sex less often, you may want to hug and cuddle more, bathe together, give each other massages, or try other activities that make you feel close to each other.
- If you and your partner are concerned about sexual problems, you may want to talk with a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, marriage counsellor, sex therapist or clergy member.
Sexual Changes - Men
Some types of chemotherapy can cause sexual changes. Chemotherapy can cause changes in hormone levels, decreased blood supply to the penis or damage to the nerves that control the penis and this can lead to impotence.
Sexual changes during chemotherapy largely depend on whether you have had problems before, the type of chemotherapy you are getting, your age, and whether you have any other illnesses. Some problems, such as loss of interest in sex, are likely to improve at the end of chemotherapy.
Problems may include
- No longer being able to reach a climax
- Impotence (not being able to get or keep an erection)
- Being too tired to have sex or not being interested in having sex
- Feeling too worried, stressed, or depressed to have sex
Talk with your doctor or nurse about:
- Ask your doctor or nurse if it is okay for you to have sex during chemotherapy. Most men can have sex, but it is a good idea to ask. Use a condom when you have sex, since traces of chemotherapy may be in your semen.
- Birth control. It is important that your partner does not fall pregnant while you are receiving chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can damage your sperm and cause birth defects.
Ways to manage sexual changes:
- Be open and honest with your partner. Talk about your feelings and concerns.
- Explore new ways to show love. You and your spouse may want to show your love for each other in new ways while you go through chemotherapy. For instance, if you are having sex less often, you may want to hug and cuddle more, bathe together, give each other massages, or try other activities that make you feel close to each other.
- If you and your partner are concerned about sexual problems, you may want to talk with a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, marriage counsellor, sex therapist or clergy member.