Sexual Problems Breakdown

Vol. 8 The More You Know

Here is a cheat sheet addressing sexual health problems and cancer treatment. I found it online & made some modifications, and hopefully it will be helpful.

Chart of female sexual problems & cancer treatment

Treatment	Low sexual desire	Less vaginal moisture	Reduced vaginal size	Painful intercourse	Trouble reaching orgasm	Infertility
Chemotherapy	Sometimes	Often	Rarely – only if linked to menopause	Often	Rarely	Often
Pelvic radiation therapy	Often, if sex is linked with pain	Often	Often	Often	Rarely	Often
Radical hysterectomy	Rarely	Often*	Often	Rarely	Rarely	Always
Radical cystectomy	Rarely	Often*	Always	Sometimes	Sometimes	Always
Abdominoperineal (AP) resection	Rarely	Often*	Sometimes	Sometimes	Rarely	Sometimes*
Total pelvic exenteration with vaginal reconstruction	Sometimes	Always	Sometimes	Sometimes	Sometimes	Always
Radical wide local excision vulvectomy (or partial vulvectomy	Rarely	Never	Sometimes	Sometimes	Sometimes	Never
Conization of the cervix	Never	Never	Never	Rarely, only if scar tissue forms	Never	Rarely
Oophorectomy (removal of one tube & ovary)	Rarely	Never*	Never*	Never – unless linked to menopause	Never	Rarely
Oophorectomy (removal of both tubes & ovaries)	Rarely	Often*	Sometimes*	Sometimes*	Rarely	Always
Mastectomy/Lumpectomy or radiation to the breast	Sometimes	Never	Never	Never	Rarely	Never
Tamoxifen therapy for breast or uterine cancer	Sometimes	Often	Sometimes	Sometimes	Rarely	Need to use birth control
Aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer	Sometimes	Sometimes	Sometimes	Sometimes	Sometimes, if sex is painful	N/A (only given to women after menopause)

*Vaginal dryness and size changes should not occur if you have one working ovary left or if hormone replacement therapy is given.

About happihare

Amy Brock is a cancer fighter and survivor. Diagnosed with Infiltrating Breast Cancer at 38 she has gone through chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, hormone therapy, and other procedures since 2013. Post treatment she has been diagnosed with lymphedema, chemo-induced neuropathy and bone degeneration in her back, as well as other issues including dysphagia, bilateral hearing loss, and arthritis. From being completely healthy, to having a variety of issues, Amy began blogging about her experiences as a way to help others. Read more about finding humor in the craziness of cancer at her blog www.tatawarrior.com Amy is the mother of two children and has worked for various non-profit agencies. In addition, she is a fine artist creating works in multiple mediums which can be seen at www.amybrock.com