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Cancer treatment for men: Possible sexual side effects
Find out if you're at risk of sexual side effects after cancer treatment and which cancer treatments can cause these side effects.
By Mayo Clinic staffTreatment for certain cancers can affect your sexuality, causing a range of signs and symptoms that can make sex with your partner more difficult. But that doesn't mean you can't have a healthy sex life after cancer treatment. Knowing more about your cancer treatment and how it may affect sexual function can help you find a solution if problems develop.
Pelvic cancers: More likely to cause sexual dysfunction than other cancers
Men with cancer in their pelvic area are more likely than are men with other cancers to report difficulty resuming sex after cancer treatment. Sexual side effects are most common after treatment for:
- Bladder cancer
- Colon cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Rectal cancer
Older men are more likely to experience sexual dysfunction after cancer treatment. That's because most older men will experience difficulty with sex at some time. So older men who've had cancer treatment may experience sexual side effects related to aging, rather than treatment. Or they may find that cancer treatment accelerates the sexual side effects associated with normal aging.
Erectile dysfunction: Most common sexual side effect of cancer treatment for men
A number of sexual side effects can occur as a result of cancer treatment, including:
- Inability to achieve or maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction)
- Difficulty climaxing
- Orgasm without discharge of semen (dry orgasm)
- Weaker, less satisfying orgasms
- Loss of libido
- Pain during sex
- Less energy for sexual activity
Not every man with cancer in his pelvic area will experience sexual side effects. Your doctor can discuss the level of risk you may encounter for your specific treatment.
You might experience sexual side effects even before you begin your treatment or even if you're being treated for a cancer that doesn't affect your pelvic area. For instance, fatigue, pain, anxiety about your treatment or depressed feelings about having cancer could cause a loss of libido. Sometimes emotional factors may have sexual side effects in addition to the physical changes you undergo during treatment.
Next page(1 of 2)
- Sexuality and reproductive issues (PDQ) patient version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/sexuality/patient. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Male sexual dysfunction. Lance Armstrong Foundation. http://www.livestrong.org/site/c.khLXK1PxHmF/b.2660705/k.F6A1/Physical_Effects_Male_Sexual_Dysfunction.htm. Accessed April 24, 2009.
- Effects of cancer treatment on male sexuality. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MIT/content/MIT_7_2x_Cancer_Treatments_Effects_On_Male_Sexuality.asp?sitearea=MIT. Accessed April 24, 2009.
