Sexual Health Support and Resources
Problems with sex and intimacy are extremely common in people who’ve had breast cancer.
Many struggle during and after treatment with symptoms such as decreased libido, vaginal dryness and irritation, pain during sex, and reduced energy. Changes in body image and in mood, as well as decreased breast sensation can also make sex less pleasurable than it was before cancer.
These issues can be caused by breast cancer treatments and medication, the disease itself, and by the life changes that go along with a cancer diagnosis.
If you have any of these sexual health concerns, the good news is that there are a lot more options than there were in the past for treatment and support, including specialists who focus on sexual health issues brought on by cancer.
It makes sense to start by talking about your concerns with someone on your cancer care team or with your gynecologist. Not all health care providers are knowledgeable about or comfortable talking about sexual health problems, but most should at least be able to refer you to a specialist. You can also find help by looking into the resources listed below.
If you decide to pursue treatment for sexual side effects from a provider who is not part of your cancer care team, be sure to keep your oncologist in the loop, vetting anything through them first to make sure they won’t interfere with any other medicines you’re taking. Importantly, tell your oncologist if you’re considering any treatments that contain estrogen so they can evaluate.
Cancer center sexual health programs
Many cancer centers and hospital systems have multidisciplinary programs or clinics that specialize in treating the sexual health concerns of cancer patients and survivors.
It’s worth finding out if the facility where you’re already receiving cancer treatment has a sexual health program (since that will ensure close collaboration with your oncologist) or if there’s one in your area. You can ask your oncologist or gynecologist for a referral to a sexual health program or look for one on your own.
One advantage of seeking care through one of these larger programs is that they can provide comprehensive care because they have a team that often includes gynecologists, psychologists certified in sex therapy, urologists, endocrinologists, pelvic floor physical therapists, and nurse practitioners who specialize in female sexual medicine.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Female Sexual Medicine & Women’s Health Program and Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Program
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Sexual Health Program
Mass General Cancer Center's Sexual Health Clinic
Rhode Island Hospital/Lifespan Cancer Institute’s Sexual Health First Responders Clinic
Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven’s Sexuality, Intimacy, and Menopause Program
Duke Health's Cancer Survivorship Services
The University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Menopause Urogenital Sexual Health and Intimacy Clinic (MUSIC)
The University of Chicago Medicine's Program in Integrative Sexual Medicine (PRISM) for Women and Girls with Cancer
St Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center/Dignity Health Arizona’s Sexual Health and Healing Program
Individual sexual health specialists
If your cancer center doesn’t have a sexual health program, or you want to look for providers on your own, the following organizations have searchable directories you can use to find health care professionals in your area that are trained in sexual health:
The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists: AASECT-certified sex therapists, sexuality counselors, and sexuality educators
The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Women’s sexual health providers, such as gynecologists, urologists, women’s health nurse-practitioners, pelvic floor physical therapists, and psychologists
Sexual Medicine Society of North America Directory: Sexual medicine providers, such as urologists and psychologists
The Society for Sex Therapy and Research: Sexual therapists and other sexual health providers
The American Board of Sexology: Sex therapists
The North American Menopause Society: Health care providers who treat symptoms of menopause
American Physical Therapy Association: Certified pelvic floor physical therapists, who can provide therapies that help address problems with intercourse, incontinence, and pain
In addition, various kinds of licensed mental health professionals (such as psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, therapists, and social workers) can provide counseling on issues related to sexuality, body image, intimacy, and relationships.
Support groups
By joining an in-person, phone, or online breast cancer support group, you can get advice and share experiences and resources related to sexual health, body image, and relationship issues with people who understand what you’re going through because they’re going through it, too.
Many local and national cancer organizations, as well as hospitals and cancer centers, have free, virtual breast cancer support groups.
Breastcancer.org’s discussion boards and virtual community meetups
Peer support
Peer support programs match you with an individual volunteer who has been diagnosed with breast cancer for one-on-one support.
The American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program
More sexual health resources
Unite for HER is a non-profit that offers free wellness programs to people with breast cancer that include education about sexual health issues and access to approved providers of sexual health counseling and mental health counseling.
WomanLab has videos and articles about sex and cancer, menopause, and other sexual health topics created by doctors and other experts from the University of Chicago.
The Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer has articles, videos, and publications about sexual health and cancer and a searchable database of providers.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has FAQs about women’s sexual health, including one about health and fertility after breast cancer treatment.
ROSY, a sexual health app developed by doctors and psychologists, provides personalized sexual wellness plans for cancer survivors. A one-month trial of the silver membership is available for free, but after that there is a fee to subscribe.
Dr. Sarah Tevis discusses her research on how women want to be told about the sexual side effects that can be caused by breast cancer treatment.
Sexual Health Side Effects From Breast Cancer Treatment
Feb 17, 2023Dr. Kristin Rojas discusses some of the most troubling sexual issues women taking hormonal therapy experience, and how to treat those issues.
Better Sexual Health for Women Taking Hormonal Therapy
Jun 7, 2023Dr. Lynn Wang discusses female sexuality during and after breast cancer treatment and how to get your mojo back.
Sexuality and Breast Cancer: Get Your Mojo Back
Oct 19, 2016Dr. Michael Krychman discusses sexuality and breast cancer survivorship.
Sexuality and Breast Cancer: From Diagnosis to Survivorship
Oct 19, 2016Dr. Kelly Shanahan talks about sexual side effects of breast cancer treatment.
Sexual Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment
Sep 17, 2020Dr. Shanahan discusses the Mets, Sex, and Side Effects panel she co-moderated at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Mets, Sex, and Side Effects — Heard in the Halls: 2019 SABCS
Dec 11, 2019Dr. Stephanie Graff talks about why sexual health is so important for people living with metastatic breast cancer.
Why Sexual Health Is Crucial for People With Metastatic Breast Cancer — Heard in the Halls: 2019 SABCS
Dec 13, 2019— Last updated on May 20, 2024 at 4:53 PM