Sex & Intimacy in the Pink
Sexual Issues After
Breast Cancer
The Facts
T
oday, nearly 3 million women in the U.S.
call themselves breast cancer survivors.
As one of them, you may have noticed
an impact on your sex life. After all,
BY
KAITLYN
SCALISI,
MPH
about half of all survivors report some
long-term sexual issues. Because sex
involves both your body and your mind, these
issues can be physical, mental, and/or emotional. They may bother only you or they may
affect your relationship with a partner.
The most common sexual issues reported by
breast cancer survivors are:
• Loss of or decreased sexual desire (libido)
• Pain with intercourse (dyspareunia)
• The inability to become aroused
• Difficulty reaching orgasm (climax)
Other side effects you experience can also change
your sex life, even if these effects are not sexual in
nature. For example, tiredness (fatigue), swelling in
your arms and legs (lymphedema), and bodily pain can
make sex both difficult and uncomfortable. Heck, if
you are tired enough, sex might even feel like a chore!
If you look different than before your treatment, you
may feel uncomfortable in, or embarrassed about your
body. Many survivors report that they do not want
their partners to see their weight loss or gain, scars, or
mastectomy. Low self-esteem or poor body image can
also put a damper on your sex life.
Studies show there are some differences in the sexual
dysfunction survivors experience based on the treat-
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THE PINK PAPER
Fall 2013
ment they receive. Women who undergo chemotherapy
struggle to relax and enjoy sex and to become aroused.
Those receiving hormonal therapy (e.g. tamoxifen or
exemestane) often report vaginal dryness. Those who
have a mastectomy express a lower interest in sex, less
enjoyment from breast caressing, and a more disrupted
sexual quality of life.
Being a cancer survivor does not have to mean the
end of your sex life. There is help, no matter what issues
you experience. Talk with your oncology team about
what you are experiencing. Research shows if you don’t
bring sex up as an is