Sex After Cancer: 5 Tips to Help With Your Post-Cancer Sex Life by Claire Postl

Sex is something no one recovering from cancer wants to talk about. You may feel embarrassed and even ashamed to open up to your partner about changes to your sex drive or the pain you may suddenly be experiencing during sex. But not talking about your post-cancer sex life with your partner could be the biggest mistake you make. Here are five tips for getting back to intimacy after cancer:

• Talk about it. It’s normal for cancer to change your sex life. Hormones slow down and sensitivities dull. It’s important to talk to your partner about these changes and work together to understand them. If you’re concerned what you’re experiencing isn’t normal, seek advice from a medical professional to make sure everything is OK.

• Date your partner again. You both have to make quality time a priority. Dream together, take a trip, go out to eat, etc. Just make sure you talk about things other than cancer.

• Redefine what intimacy is. You may need to define what you want the purpose of sex to be now. In fact, intimacy doesn’t have to be intercourse at all. If you have sex and you’re not feeling connected, find other ways to connect on an intimate level.

• Pain is not normal. Don’t try to push through any physical discomfort. Doing so can create a negative idea of sex. If you’re experiencing dryness, lubricants and vaginal moisturizers are key.

• Physical therapy for sex can help. If the pain doesn’t go away, there are treatment options for you. Surgeries and radiation may cause your pelvic floor muscles to become weak, tense or experience shooting pain. A physical therapist can work with you to stretch and strengthen those muscles to reduce the pain you’re experiencing.

The content on 30Seconds.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice. The information on this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, and is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your personal healthcare provider. The opinions or views expressed on 30Seconds.com do not necessarily represent those of 30Seconds or any of its employees, corporate partners or affiliates.

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