Key Messages:

• Sexuality is an important part of life for young adults.
  
  
• The physical and emotional changes brought on by cancer and cancer treatment may affect sexuality, fertility, reproductive health, and sexual relationships.
  
  
• Allowing yourself time to heal and adjust to body changes along with being open and honest with your partner can help your recovery and well being.

Physical changes and sexuality

Some cancers and cancer treatments directly affect sexuality through physical changes to sexual organs. For men, treatment can affect sperm production and the ability to get an erection. For women, chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the pelvis can damage the ovaries and reduce the amount of hormones they produce, causing early menopause or menopausal symptoms.

However, a cancer treatment does not have to directly involve reproductive organs to affect sexuality. For example, sexuality may be affected by colon cancer, especially if a temporary or semi-permanent ostomy bag is used to collect bodily elimination. Common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and mouth sores, all of which lower sexual interest. In fact, loss of libido is the most common sexual concern for cancer survivors.

Emotions, body image, and sexuality

Emotional changes also affect sexual desire, performance, and satisfaction. Fear, anxiety, stress, and depression can reduce libido. Body image concerns can also affect sexuality. Cancer and cancer treatment may change the way a person looks and feels about his or her appearance. For instance, a person may feel less attractive after the loss of a breast (in women) or a testicle (in men). Even if cancer has not changed a person’s physical appearance, many survivors say they feel differently about their attractiveness and sexual desirability.

Coping with sexual concerns

Sexuality is an important part of life for young adults. The following suggestions may help you cope with common sexual concerns during and/or after cancer treatment:

• Give yourself time to adjust to body changes before resuming or beginning a sexual relationship. Honest, open communication is essential. Talk with your partner about your fears and concerns and let your partner know how he or she can help you.
  
  
• In the same way, encourage your partner to share his or her concerns.
  
  
• Remember that sexuality involves much more than intercourse. Explore other ways of building intimacy, arousal, and sexual gratification.
  
  
• If you have scars or noticeable body changes, it may make you feel more comfortable to let your partner see and touch these areas of your body before any sexual activity.
  
  
• Sexual activity may need to be less spontaneous at first. It may be helpful to plan around those times of the day when you are experiencing fatigue or pain.
  
  
• Individual, couples, and/or sex therapy can help you and your partner address sexual and body image concerns in a comfortable setting.
  
  
• Difficulties, such as loss of libido, pain during intercourse, and problems achieving orgasm, may have a medical cause. Talk with your doctor about this possibility and treatment options.

Finally, both young adults in a marriage or long-term partnership and those who are single have additional concerns about their relationships. Learn more about talking with your spouse or partner and being single with cancer.

Cancer and pregnancy

Even if you are in active treatment, it is still possible to become pregnant or to impregnate someone. Some cancer treatments may harm the fetus and cause birth defects. It is important to talk with your doctor about these risks and to use a reliable form of birth control if you are sexually active during cancer treatment. Read more about Pregnancy and Cancer.

More Information

Cancer in Young Adults: Your Body

Relationships and Cancer

Cancer in Young Adults

Additional Resources

American Cancer Society: Sexuality for Women and Their Partners

American Cancer Society: Sexuality for Men and Their Partners

Mayo Clinic: Sexuality after cancer treatment: What women can expect

Mayo Clinic: Sexuality after cancer treatment: What men can expect