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Is Sex During Chemo Safe?
Having sex if you have a lowered white blood cell count places you at risk for infections.
If you have sex and you have low blood platelets, you might experience bleeding that could be severe.
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You might also be more likely to bruise during intercourse if you have a low blood platelet count.
There are ways to address the pain and make intercourse more comfortable.
Getting Pregnant After Chemo
In some cases, chemo can cause infertility.
However, many people do go on to have children after treatment.
How Chemo Affects Libido
Chemotherapy can disrupt your sex drive and cause lowlibido.
While this side effect of treatment is rarely talked about, it can severely affect your intimate relationships.
Sexual side effectsare not seen with every key in of treatment.
Make use of any ideas you had in your earlier discussions.
Remember that there is more to physical intimacy than intercourse.
If you’re having pain, try different positions that make intercourse more comfortable.
Going Solo
Sometimes it might be difficult or undesirable to be intimate with someone else.
When you are feeling this way, you might want to explore your sexuality independently.
It can also help you identify any areas on your body that might be sore or tender.
Sometimes it’s helpful to have someone else mediate conversations if the topic is sensitive.
This, in turn, could increase your drive to be physically intimate.
For example, you might try mindfulness-based approaches, psychotherapy, and couples therapy with a partner.
Your provider might also be able to help you connect with a sex or couples therapist.
You might find it challenging to help your partner understand what youre going through.
Not being able to be physically intimate with them may put a strain on your relationship.
Ask your healthcare provider about whether it is safe for you to have sex during your treatment.
Although its possible to lose your libido during chemotherapy, not everyone will experience this side effect.
If you do, there are still ways to become aroused while your desire for sexual intercourse is low.
Getting pregnant shortly after chemotherapy comes with risks for the developing fetus.
Canadian Cancer Society.Low Platelet Count (Thrombocytopenia).
American Psychological Association.Sex Therapy for the 21st century: Five emerging direction.
