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| Side Effects of Radiation Therapy: Sexual Side Effects of Radiation Therapy in Women |
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Pelvic radiation therapy: Radiation to the pelvic area can cause the vagina to be tender and inflamed during and for a few weeks after treatment. Scarring of the area occurs as it heals and can interfere with the ability of the vagina to stretch. The lining of the vagina also gets thinner and may cause light bleeding after intercourse. A few women get ulcers, or sore spots, in their vaginas. It may take many months after the end of radiation therapy for these areas to heal.
The scarring that normally occurs after pelvic radiation could shorten or narrow the vagina so much that a woman may not have intercourse. She can often keep tight scar tissue from forming by stretching the walls of her vagina a few times a week. One way to keep the vagina open is to have sexual intercourse at least three to four times a week. Another option is to use a vaginal dilator. A dilator is a plastic or rubber tube used to stretch out the vagina. It feels much like putting in a large tampon for a few minutes. Even if a woman is not interested in staying sexually active, keeping her vagina normal in size allows comfortable gynecologic exams. This is an important part of follow-up care after treatment.
Can a woman have intercourse while receiving pelvic radiation?
As long as a woman is not bleeding heavily from a tumor in her bladder, rectum, uterus, cervix, or vagina, she can usually have intercourse during pelvic radiation therapy. The outer genitals and vagina are just as sensitive as usual. Women should follow their doctor's guidelines on intercourse during radiation therapy.
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