How does breast cancer affect sexuality? 

Having breast cancer, or having treatment for breast cancer, may affect your life in different ways – some you may be expecting, while others you may not be.¹

Intimacy and sex are important elements of health which may be impacted by breast cancer. Intimacy is defined as the act of having a close or romantic relationship with someone – and sex may be a part of this.²

Research by UK-based breast cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now, revealed that out of a group of 1,500 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the past five years in Britain, 98% found the side effects difficult for them to be sexually active. This is almost all of the group – meaning if you are feeling this way, you’re not alone.^3,4

Barriers to being intimate with a loved one include side effects of treatment, such as vaginal dryness, low mood, anxiety and pain during sex. In addition to this, worries about not feeling sexually attractive sometimes get in the way – with nearly one in three people in the study (27%) reporting concerns.³ It’s not uncommon for body image and confidence to be affected following a diagnosis of breast cancer.⁴

Your desire for sex and intimacy is influenced by many things, but another barrier to sex and intimacy for some people living with breast cancer is loss of libido. This means you just don’t feel like being intimate and sexually active. After the body has been through so many changes with breast cancer and the focus has been on getting better, it’s not a surprise some people lose their appetite for sex and intimacy.⁴

Here we share a few ways to nurture sexuality and intimacy when having treatment for breast cancer 

Consider all potential side effects when choosing treatment

Before deciding on and starting treatment, it’s important to consider all your needs and wants – including sex and intimacy. Some hormone treatments, for example, may lower your interest in sex.1 They work by blocking or lowering the amounts of hormones in your body, and this can affect the vagina and the way it works.⁵

Having surgery for their breast cancer may mean losing all or part of your breast(s) – this may affect your desire to be close and intimate with someone.⁴

Speaking about the importance of considering sex and intimacy in the treatment decision process, Dr. Stefano Magno, from the University Hospital Foundation, A. Gemelli Foundation, Rome, Italy, says: 

“Sexual health is first and foremost a human right and a fundamental issue when talking about quality of life. It must absolutely be taken into consideration and addressed when we talk about women who are starting on a cancer journey.”

Consider using creams or medicines for vaginal health

If someone is experiencing vaginal dryness or discomfort ‘down there’ after having treatment for breast cancer, they may wish to use a cream on the area to help the area return to normal. Potential options include:⁵

• Non-hormonal treatment– these include moisturisers, lubricants and creams to wash with, and aim to reduce the dryness and discomfort
• Hormonal treatment – these come in the form of creams, tablets or suppositories (which are small items that are placed inside the vagina); they provide the body with the hormone oestrogen, which the body needs to keep the vagina moist and working as it should

Consider complementary therapies to help with side effects of treatment 

Some side effects of breast cancer treatment may be eased by complementary therapies. These are therapies that fall outside of, but may be used alongside, traditional medicine. They may help with some symptoms and side effects of breast cancer, including physical and emotional aspects – but are not used to tackle the breast cancer itself.⁶

Some complementary therapies are backed by science. For example, acupuncture has been shown in many studies to help with symptoms of hot flushes – which are experienced in around 80% of people with breast cancer and may be a barrier to sex and intimacy.⁷

For other complementary approaches, such as mindfulness, the research is less concrete. For example, some studies suggest that yoga and meditation may improve sexual function in women with breast cancer.^8,9 It’s important you speak with your doctor before undergoing any complementary therapies. 

If you’ve been feeling less interested in sex and intimacy because of breast cancer, it’s important to speak with your doctor. It may feel awkward to start these conversations but remember you’re not alone. Your doctor will be able to give you advice and support to help you manage any side effects you’re experiencing and get you feeling more like yourself again.