Facing a cancer diagnosis turns every aspect of life upside down, and it is completely natural for intimate doubts to arise—doubts that are often silenced out of fear or shame. At IVOQA, we understand that desire, intimacy, and emotional well-being are essential components of your recovery. For this reason, we approach your health holistically, ensuring that your physical and emotional balance is protected at every stage of the process.
This article has been reviewed by Dr. Carlos Piñel, Gynecologist at the Hospital Universitario Viamed Santa Elena.
Why Does Cancer Treatment Alter Sexual Life?
Cancer treatment alters sexual life due to the impact of pelvic surgical procedures, hormonal imbalances caused by systemic therapies, and the profound physical and psychological fatigue experienced by the body.
Oncological therapies produce changes that directly affect the human sexual response. Medications such as chemotherapy trigger intense oncological fatigue that drastically reduces daily energy, while physical changes resulting from surgical interventions temporarily compromise body image.
All these organic factors impact the individual’s emotional well-being, meaning that these invisible side effects require specialized and empathetic support to restore comfort to intimacy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sexuality During Cancer Treatment
Often, a lack of rigorous information generates unnecessary isolation within a relationship. We provide direct answers to the most frequent questions our patients ask during consultations:
Is it safe to have sexual relations while receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy?
In most cases, yes, it is possible to engage in sexual relations safely. Due to the cellular toxicity of the medications, some chemotherapy drugs or their metabolites may be temporarily eliminated through certain body fluids. For this reason, using a latex condom is recommended to protect your partner from accidental exposure.
I feel pain or extreme dryness, what can I do?
This symptom is highly common due to early menopause induced by certain cancer treatments, including ovarian surgery or hormone therapies. To counteract mucosal atrophy and marked vaginal dryness from chemotherapy, the clinical solution consists of applying non-hormonal vaginal moisturizers daily and using water-based lubricants prior to intimate activity, significantly relieving dyspareunia (pain) during intercourse.
Can cancer or the treatment be transmitted to my partner?
Cancer is not a contagious disease and cannot be transmitted through sexual relations or regular physical contact. This is one of the most widespread and harmful myths about cancer, causing unnecessary emotional distance between couples. Safe physical contact, caresses, kisses, and hugs are completely harmless and, moreover, are highly therapeutic for reducing stress and anxiety levels.
I have completely lost my sexual desire, is this normal?
It is a completely normal physiological and psychological response from your body. A decrease in libido is directly associated with extreme fatigue, oncological anxiety and depression, and the cessation of biological stimuli when a suppressive hormone therapy is prescribed. In men, procedures involving the prostate or bladder area can lead to the temporary appearance of erectile dysfunction due to surgery—a scenario that requires patience and specialized urological guidance.
Advanced Oncological Surgery and Sexuality: The IVOQA Approach
The surgical approach at IVOQA focuses on planning highly precise pelvic and abdominal surgeries, comprehensively designed to preserve the nerve and vascular structures responsible for sexual function.
Through IVOQA (Instituto Viamed de Oncología Quirúrgica Avanzada) in Madrid, located at the Hospital Universitario Viamed Santa Elena, we reject standardized approaches and prioritize preserving your intimate functionality whenever it is oncologically safe.
The Adaptive Impact of Ostomies (Colostomy/Ileostomy Bags)
When the resection of a colorectal tumor requires diverting the intestinal transit, the ostomy patient faces the challenge of adapting their intimacy to a new bodily reality. The colorectal surgeons at our institute work closely with stoma care nurses to facilitate the normalization of the process, offering positioning guidelines, discreet accessories, and technical clothing that restore confidence and comfort during intimate encounters.
The Multidisciplinary Approach to Quality of Life at IVOQA Madrid
The multidisciplinary approach to quality of life at IVOQA Madrid guarantees transversal medical care that unites gynecologists, urologists, oncologists, and psychologists to actively restore your sexual health.
Addressing difficulties in your intimate life is not a secondary matter; it is a right and a cornerstone of the patient’s quality of life. In our oncological support unit in Madrid, we break the clinical silence to offer you a space of absolute confidentiality and scientific rigor.
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace a specialist’s diagnosis. If you have any questions, please visit a Viamed center.
