Sex and Cancer: Sensation and sex drive
Loss or changes in sensation
Certain treatments may affect the sensation in your genitals or in your chest area. This can occur from radiation or surgeries that affect the nerves or as a result of nerve changes (neuropathy) arising from some types of chemotherapy.
Some people who have had a limb removed or significant tissue from an area removed, e.g. a breast, may experience phantom pain. Phantom sensation or pain is where people have a sensation in the area where the limb or tissue once was. For someone who has had a mastectomy it is possible to feel pain in the area where the breast has been removed. This is because the brain continues to send signals to nerves in the area even though it is no longer there. If you experience any type of phantom pain, discuss this with your clinical team as there are drugs available specifically for nerve pain that can help.
If you have experienced a reduction in sensitivity, you may wish to explore sex toys that are specifically made for high intensity stimulation. There are many toys on the market made specifically to heighten sensation such as wand vibrators, clitoral stimulators and masturbation sleeves.
Orgasm
Some treatments for cancer can affect your ability to reach orgasm during sex. This may be related to surgery, radiotherapy, medications you are receiving, or your mood. If you have noticed a change, refer to the relevant sections of this resource for more information and discuss your circumstance with someone from your cancer care team.
Low sex drive
It is normal for you to experience a lower interest in sex during cancer treatment. Lots of people say that the treatment makes them feel really tired and that they have no energy, which may cause you to lose interest in sex.
This decrease in interest may also be because your sex hormones have been reduced by your treatment. Don’t let this worry you, after treatment this will usually improve.
If your interest in sex doesn’t improve some months after your treatment has completed and this is bothering you, speak to someone from your cancer care team about it.