Sexuality

Genito-What? Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Part I

Quick question for all my vulva and vagina-owning peeps out there: Has your cancer care team ever asked about bothersome genital symptoms like dryness, irritation, itching, or pain?

Even though genital symptoms like these can occur with several different cancer treatments and are common in AYAs, healthcare professionals don’t do a great job of regularly assessing vulvovaginal health at follow-up appointments (1). Lots of young survivors begin to develop these issues in survivorship without realizing that it could be a side effect of their treatments! The good news is that there are effective management options to help relieve symptoms and prevent them from worsening over time.

References for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Part II

References for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Part II

My Body, My Bestie

Where are you right now? On the couch? Lounging in bed? Lunch break? Cancer clinic waiting room?

No matter where you are or where you’re going, who’s there with you?

Oh yeah, your body.

Sex and Relationships

How exactly do you tell someone, “Oh, by the way, my eggs got blasted from chemo therapy, and I will never be able to have my own kids”? And when exactly is the best time to bring this up? First date? Third date? Right before or in the middle of getting busy?

Dude, Where’s My Erection? Part III

We’ve made it to the final installment of this series! Part I highlighted how and why erection problems can occur after cancer, and Part II outlined some of the pharmacological options available to help improve erectile function for cancer survivors. However, not all erection issues require a prescription, and not all penises respond well to medicines. 

Dude, Where’s My Erection? (Part II)

Welcome to Part II of a three-part conversation exploring the cancer and erection connection (turns out, there was so much good stuff to share that I had to extend the series!). As we dug into the nitty gritty of what erections actually are and how they work back in Part I, it became clear that there are several steps in the process that are vulnerable to the impacts of cancer and its treatments. Next on the agenda is what to do about it!

Dude, Where’s My Erection? Part I

Warning: Mature Content

One of the most common sexual problems that survivors with penises experience are changes with erections (6,10). Unfortunately, erections don’t get a lot of air time during clinic conversations. For one thing, sexual side effects of treatments sometimes don’t show up right away, and over time survivorship concerns may no longer be on a provider’s radar (though they should be!).

Orgasms After Cancer: Part II

Welcome to Part II of “Orgasms After Cancer!” In case you missed Part I, head back to the March 2022 issue of Elephants and Tea for a quick peek; it will be helpful as we move on to Part II. After all, the more you know about how things work, the more likely you are to discover what works for you. Sit tight, because things are about to get stimulating!

Orgasms After Cancer: Part I

Understanding the “O” in “OMG!”

As if all the other side effects from cancer treatment aren’t bad enough, survivors can also experience frustrating changes in their sex lives, including newly altered (or absent!) orgasms. Why does this happen, and what can be done?

“E” is for Emotional Intimacy

Cancer has a way of disrupting almost every aspect of a person’s life, including sex. If you’re like most young survivors, you may be struggling with a number of things that can affect how sexual you feel, or whether or not you’re interested in or able to engage in sexual activity. This is totally normal. Sometimes, though, altered sexual routines can also impact a couple’s emotional closeness. If you are in a romantic relationship, it’s important to remember that there are lots of ways to share intimacy that don’t include sex.