Breast Cancer and Your Libido, articles, love

Breast Cancer and Your Libido

by Véronique Larivière, sexologist
published October 17, 2008

rating: (120 Ratings)

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It goes without saying that a breast cancer diagnosis is a difficult trial for any woman—her physical, psychological, and even sexual well-being can all be affected. Divine.ca is here to help you learn about how to counteract the effects of illness on intimacy—because information is always your best ally in any situation, for you or someone you care about.

The impact of treatment on your libido
Cancer treatments often have serious side effects that can modify a woman’s libido and her sexual life. Nausea, pain, anxiety, stress, and fatigue can alter the frequency and quality of sexual relations, as well as the intensity of orgasms.

At the same time, chemotherapy can trigger the same symptoms as menopause: heat flashes, irregular menstrual cycles, and vaginal dryness even in the presence of sexual desire. What’s more, the hair loss often associated with chemotherapy can have a direct impact on self-esteem. A lowering of a woman’s sex drive is often the result, and even the prospect of sexual relations can become fraught with anxiety.

Lastly, enduring a mastectomy (the partial or total removal of a breast or breasts) is a traumatic experience in many cases. After surgery, it can be difficult for a woman to accept the changes to her body that she sees in her mirror, and to reveal her altered body to her partner. Many women even prefer to remain clothed during sexual relations, in an attempt to deal with the discomfort.

Possible solutions
When treatment is over, sexual difficulties connected to stress and anxiety can disappear on their own. But there’s no need to put sexuality aside during treatment, waiting for the problem to resolve itself. A fulfilling sexual life is possible both during and after treatment, by following four easy, guiding principles.

The importance of communication
It’s essential that partners feel at ease openly communicating their feelings in the face of such a difficult moment in their relationship. If a woman withdraws into herself, the stress and anxiety can have an impact the couple’s sexual life. It is always easier to survive a challenging phase when we have the support of the person with whom we share our lives. In fact, it’s entirely possible that a couple can find a happy sex life again, thanks to communication, shared confidence, tenderness, and harmony, which can be found even in the darkest of times.

Rediscovering femininity
When a woman’s perception of her own femininity is skewed by the loss of her breast, it can be difficult to believe that one day she will recover her self-esteem and desirability. However, by slowly coming to terms with the changes in her body, it is possible to rediscover beauty and self-confidence. Each woman has her own path to take, and her own rhythm, on the road to healing.Learning to feel good again takes time; a woman shouldn’t hesitate to talk to her partner about the sense of loss and discomfort that often accompany a mastectomy.

Tag(s): breast cancer

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HUMMINGBIRD
October 12, 2007 at 8:19 am

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BREAST CANCER, THE TWO SCARIEST WORDS I'VE EVER BEEN TOLD. I HAD A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY IN 2005 AT THE AGE OF 45.
EVERYTHING ISN THIS ARTICLE IS TRUE. MY SEX LIFE TOOK A BEATING. EVERYTHING CHANGED. I HAD TO LEARN TO ACCEPT THE CHANGES BOTH PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AND SO DID MY HUSBAND. AFTER 28 YEARS, THINGS WERE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. IT HAS TAKEN ME 2 YEARS TO ACCEPT THAT THINGS ARE WHAT THEY ARE, GET USED TO IT AND GET ON WITH IT.
Jenn McNeil
October 15, 2010 at 3:11 pm

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Intimacy and Sexuality (for couples and single ladies) is one topic at Body, Mind, Spirit 2010: National Conference for Young Women Living with Breast Cancer, October 29 to 31, 2010, Toronto, Hilton Hotel. Conference schedule and online registration forms at www.cbcn.ca (online registration only).

The Canadian Breast Cancer Network and Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation invite 400 women to learn about the latest medical research, participate in workshops, and share experiences with guest speakers like Bif Naked who will speak about her two-year battle with breast cancer in Rock Your Cancer!

Other topics include: a three-part series on BRCA (management options, fertility and psychosocial issues); Taking Charge of Your Treatment for Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer; Breast Reconstruction: Knowing Your Options; Babies After Breast Cancer; and Financial Health For Women on Long-Term Disability, and more.

More information: Jenn McNeil, Canadian Breast Cancer Network: 1-800-685-8820 ext. 224, or jmcneil@cbcn.ca.
Jenn McNeil
October 15, 2010 at 3:11 pm

flag as spam | reply | I this
1 others heart this

Intimacy and Sexuality (for couples and single ladies) is one topic at Body, Mind, Spirit 2010: National Conference for Young Women Living with Breast Cancer, October 29 to 31, 2010, Toronto, Hilton Hotel. Conference schedule and online registration forms at www.cbcn.ca (online registration only).

The Canadian Breast Cancer Network and Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation invite 400 women to learn about the latest medical research, participate in workshops, and share experiences with guest speakers like Bif Naked who will speak about her two-year battle with breast cancer in Rock Your Cancer!

Other topics include: a three-part series on BRCA (management options, fertility and psychosocial issues); Taking Charge of Your Treatment for Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer; Breast Reconstruction: Knowing Your Options; Babies After Breast Cancer; and Financial Health For Women on Long-Term Disability, and more.

More information: Jenn McNeil, Canadian Breast Cancer Network: 1-800-685-8820 ext. 224, or jmcneil@cbcn.ca.