Chemotherapy and sexual health

You may find that you lose interest in sex (also known as loss of libido) during chemotherapy and there are various reasons for this. You may be anxious about your diagnosis and treatment, or be experiencing side effects such as nausea and vomiting. You may simply feel too tired. Everybody reacts differently, but problems are usually temporary.

In some women chemotherapy drugs bring on an early menopause, which can also lead to a loss of interest in sex (also known as loss of libido).

Chemotherapy and fertility

Chemotherapy can affect egg (ovum) development, which in turn can affect fertility. If you're of childbearing age and are considering having children, you’ll need to think carefully about fertility before you start chemotherapy.

Some women find that their periods become irregular or stop temporarily. Others find that they stop completely, which may indicate permanent infertility. This depends on the type of drugs you're having, the dosage and your age. In women around 40 or above, periods are less likely to return because of being nearer to the age at which the menopause occurs naturally.

Chemotherapy and contraception

You can carry on with your usual sex life during your treatment but it's advisable not to get pregnant because this may mean that the chemotherapy has to be stopped. This is because chemotherapy can affect the developing foetus, particularly in the first trimester (up to the first 12 weeks).

Although your periods may become irregular or stop completely it’s still important to use contraception. It’s a good idea to use a barrier contraceptive such as condoms during treatment, as chemotherapy drugs affect the whole body and may be present in body fluids.

You could also think about using the following methods of contraception once your treatment is complete:

• diaphragm
• fitted IUD (coil) – but not one that works by releasing hormones.

The contraceptive pill may not be recommended because of the small possible risk of the hormones stimulating the breast cancer to grow. The morning-after pill can still be used for emergencies, since a single dose of hormones is unlikely to affect your breast cancer.

Chemotherapy during pregnancy

Chemotherapy can be given during pregnancy. However, it should be avoided during the first trimester as it may lead to birth defects or miscarriage. Chemotherapy during the second and third trimesters is usually safe. Many pregnant women treated with chemotherapy at this time go on to have healthy babies, although there is a small risk of low birth weight and early delivery.

If you’re near the end of your pregnancy, it may be possible to induce the baby early so you can start your chemotherapy after the birth.

You may want to download our Breast cancer during pregnancy factsheet from the right hand side of this page for more information.