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For many patients, cancer and its treatment cause physical or psychological changes that affect sexuality and intimate relationships. Your health care team at Fred Hutch Cancer Center welcomes your questions about intimacy and sexuality throughout treatment and will help you get the help you need.
Request an Appointment
Fred Hutch's Sexual Health Clinic is open to patients currently receiving treatment at Fred Hutch as well as those who have completed treatment but are experiencing sexual side effects.
Please contact your oncology care team to request an appointment with our Sexual Health Clinic. Telehealth (virtual) and in-person appointments are available.
Sexual Health Care Throughout Your Treatment
Located within our Wellness Center, the Fred Hutch Sexual Health Clinic provides medical care, counseling, and resources for patients experiencing common challenges with sexuality and intimate relationships during and after cancer treatment. Whether you’re experiencing challenges while in active treatment or due to medications during survivorship, we’re here to help.
Although you may feel reluctant, a good first step is to bring up any concerns with your health care team. Do not let embarrassment get in the way of your medical care or quality of life.
What can the clinic help me with?
Cancer treatment can leave people feeling tired, anxious, undesirable, or with a lack of desire. Many patients need more time or stimulation to reach orgasm. Some cancer treatments may cause issues such as pain with sexual activity, erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, early menopause, or diminished fertility.
Sexual contact can even be unsafe at some points in cancer treatment, such as if your platelet count is too low or if sexual activity causes bleeding. Precautions to prevent pregnancy are also essential during chemotherapy and for a period afterwards. If you are concerned, ask your health care provider before participating in sexual activities. Our Sexual Health Clinic can help answer all questions related to these topics.
What to Expect During a Visit
The Sexual Health Clinic can help you treat the physical and psychological impacts of cancer treatment on your sexual health, during one-time or ongoing appointments:
- Determine the cause of challenges (physical, psychological, hormonal)
- Address symptoms you are currently experiencing
- Prescribe treatments including medications, topical creams, vaginal dilators, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and more
- Give helpful lifestyle recommendations and provide resources
- Provide referrals to social workers and psychologists specially trained in relationships, body image, intimacy, and sexuality
- Coordinate with your oncology care team
Low sex drive
Lack of desire (also called lack of libido) can be a normal response to the stresses of treatment and not feeling well. Sometimes the cause is physical.
- Some medications can interfere with sexual desire.
- Chemotherapy and radiation often affect hormones. In some instances this can be treated with hormone supplementation or other medications.
- Talk to your doctor or nurse if lack of desire is a problem. They can evaluate if further medical testing is necessary and what treatments or counseling may help.
Difficulty with erections
Difficulty with erections after treatment can occur for different reasons.
- Sometimes, it’s harder to become and stay aroused because of stress and fatigue.
- Chemotherapy and radiation to the brain and testicles can also affect hormones involved in arousal and erection.
- Hormone supplementation such as testosterone or medications to treat erectile dysfunction can be helpful. Ask your doctor.
Pain during sex
Women may experience pain during sex for a variety of reasons. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you notice these symptoms, as they can often be improved with medications, topical creams, or vaginal dilators. These symptoms should not be ignored because they can worsen if not treated.
- Treatment can make it more difficult to become aroused, which can lead to pain because the vaginal walls are not relaxed.
- Women can also experience vaginal dryness due to premature menopause from chemotherapy and radiation. In addition to using a water soluble lubricant, hormone supplementation may help with vaginal dryness.
Some men have reported temporary pain with ejaculation after treatment.
- This may be related to inflammation of the urethra from radiation or chemotherapy. Tell your doctor so your team can evaluate whether it is caused by another problem, such as an infection.
- Any unusual tightness, penile curvature, or pain with erection or ejaculation should also be discussed with your doctor or nurse.