Cancer and Sexual Dysfunction in Women

Where can I find out more about Female Sexual Dysfunction?
For more information about female sexual dysfunction, including suggestions for taking action and a list of resources, visit the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Why is knowing about Female Sexual Dysfunction important to women affected by cancer?
Cancer and its treatment can affect many different aspects of your life. One area of your life that might have changed is your ability to have or enjoy sex. These changes are sometimes referred to as sexual dysfunction caused by cancer or its treatment.

What do I need to know about Female Sexual Dysfunction?
There are many different causes of sexual dysfunction in cancer survivors. Some are physical causes and some are caused by changes in how you feel about yourself, your body or other aspects of your life after cancer.

There are certain types of cancer, like those that affect your sexual organs, that put you at risk for sexual dysfunction after cancer. About half of survivors of breast cancer or cancer in the pelvic area (cervix, ovaries, uterus, bladder, colon, and vagina) develop long-term sexual dysfunction. However, most sexual dysfunction is caused by the treatment for cancer and not the cancer itself. Even if you didn't have a type of cancer that affects your sexual organs, the treatment you received might put you at risk for sexual dysfunction.

Some of types of treatment for cancer that may cause sexual dysfunction:
• Chemotherapy can damage the ovaries, causing hormonal changes and temporary or permanent menopause in younger women (alkylating drugs are most likely to cause damage)
• Hormone therapy
• Radiation to the vagina, cervix or uterus
• Surgery or radiation therapy for cancers in the pelvic area (bladder, colorectal, cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal or vulvar cancer)
• Side effects of medicines used to treat pain, nausea, depression or anxiety

What steps should I take to address Female Sexual Dysfunction?
If you think that sexual dysfunction is interfering with your ability to enjoy life after cancer, you might want to consider finding ways that you feel comfortable discussing your sexual dysfunction with your health care team. Ask for a longer appointment so you will have time to bring up sensitive questions. Sexual dysfunction may not go away on its own. Your health care team can help you learn more about the treatment options available and how to improve your ability to have and enjoy sex again.

Sometimes treatments do not work and your sexual dysfunction may continue to affect you. This can be very frustrating and upsetting for both survivors and their partners. Intercourse is only one way of sharing pleasure and closeness with your partner. Some survivors who can't have sex find they still enjoy cuddling and caressing their partner. You might want to try other ways of sharing pleasure and feeling closeness with your partner.