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| Will My Sexual Function & Fertility Be Affected? |
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Chemotherapy can but does not always affect sexual organs and functioning. The possible side effects depend on the drugs used, your age, and general health.
Men
Chemotherapy may lower the number of sperm cells, reduce their ability to move, or cause other abnormalities. These changes can result in temporary or permanent infertility. Infertility affects a man's ability to father a child but does not affect his ability to have sexual intercourse.
Because permanent sterility (infertility) may occur, it's important to discuss this issue with your doctor before you begin chemotherapy. You might consider banking your sperm for future use.
Men undergoing chemotherapy should use an effective means of birth control with their partners during treatment because chemotherapy may have harmful effects on chromosomes of sperm cells. Ask your doctor when you can stop using birth control for this reason.
Women
Chemotherapy can damage the ovaries and reduce the amount of hormones they produce. As a result, you may have these side effects:
- Your menstrual periods may become irregular or stop completely during chemotherapy.
- You may have menopause-like symptoms such as hot flashes and itching, burning, or dryness of vaginal tissues. These tissue changes can make intercourse uncomfortable, but the symptoms often can be relieved by using a water-based vaginal lubricant.
- You may be more likely to get vaginal infections because of the tissue changes. To help prevent infection, avoid oil-based lubricants such as petroleum jelly, wear cotton underwear and pantyhose with a ventilated cotton lining, and don't wear tight slacks or shorts. Your doctor also may prescribe a vaginal cream or suppository to reduce the chances of infection. If an infection does occur, it should be treated right away.
- You may become infertile (unable to become pregnant). Whether infertility occurs and how long it lasts depends on many factors, including the type of drug, the dosage given, and your age.
Pregnancy
- If a woman is pregnant when her cancer is discovered, it may be possible to delay chemotherapy until after the baby is born.
- For a woman who needs treatment sooner, the doctor may suggest starting chemotherapy after the 12th week of pregnancy when the fetus is beyond the stage of greatest risk.
- In some cases, termination of the pregnancy may be considered.
If you or your partner is considering pregnancy after completing chemotherapy, discuss the matter with your physician.
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