Hey folks, let's break the silence around something crucial—female sexual health during cancer treatment. Too many people with vaginas are facing these issues in silence, not realizing just how common they are. Today, we're going to spotlight the main issues that arouse (or not) during treatment.
The usual suspects to sexual disfunction are caused by pelvic surgery, pelvic radiation, certain types of chemo and hormonal agents. This isn't to mention the the EVERYTHING else that is going on in your body and life. Here are the main symptoms:
Vaginal Dryness: The is the most common problem people experience. As if the hormone-induced emotional rollercoaster and hot flashes from abrupt menopause weren't enough. Vaginal dryness leads to discomfort and even dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse).
Changes in Sexual Response: Cancer treatment can kill libido and put the breaks on arousal. I hear people say all the time that sex is the last thing on their mind - I absolutely respect that. On the flip side, there are so many other people who would like to have it on the forefront of their mind but don't feel comfortable talking about it. If we don't start treating it as a problem, we're never going to proactively look for solutions.
Painful Intercourse: Surgery and radiation not only cause dryness but mess with your vaginal tissues and can cause narrowing.
Sexual disfunction can have a huge emotional impact - causing anxiety, sadness and a feeling of loss.
If there's a small part of you that wishes your sex life were different, reach out to the healthcare pros who specialize in sexual health. You're not alone. Let's kick off this conversation and support each other through it!
With love,
Lisa 💖🌊
Comments