Cancer & sexuality: Questions for your treatment team

Reviewed by:
Dr Amanda Hordern, PhD, & Doreen Akkerman, AM
Taken from Sexuality and cancer booklet (726kb)

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Discussing sexual concerns with your treatment team might be difficult for you. You may feel uncomfortable with the subject, or sense that your health professional may be too. If a member of your treatment team doesn't ask about your sexuality, it's perfectly okay for you to bring the subject up.

If, however, you do not feel satisfied with their response, ask for a referral to someone who can more freely discuss sexual matters with you. This is also perfectly acceptable.

Below is a list of suggested questions to get the conversation started with your health professional.

General

• How will this treatment affect me, sexually?
• How will this treatment affect my hormones?
• What changes are likely in the short-term and what changes are likely long-term?
• When will I feel like having sex again?
• How soon can I masturbate or have sex?
• What sort of problems may we experience during intercourse?
• It hurt when we had intercourse. Why?
• What kind of contraception should I use?
• Can I have children?
• If I've had a sexually transmitted disease, will it come back with chemotherapy?
• Will I ever feel normal again?
• Can I get any information about finding a sexual counsellor or therapist?

For women

• Would hormone replacement therapy be necessary or beneficial?
• I have extreme vaginal dryness. What do you recommend?

For men

• Why can't I get an erection?
• How long will it be before I can get an erection again?
• What can I do if I can't get an erection?

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