Some people go through chemotherapy without it having any effect their sex lives. Others find that their sex lives are temporarily or permanently changed in some way due to their chemotherapy.

Most changes that occur are temporary, and should not have a long-term effect on your sex life. There may be times when you just feel too tired, or perhaps not strong enough for the level of physical activity you are used to during sex. If your treatment is making you feel sick, you may not want to have sex at all for a while. Remember that most side effects from chemotherapy that may affect your sex life, such as tiredness or sickness, will gradually wear off once your treatment is finished.

Anxiety may also play a part in putting you off sex. The anxiety may not be directly related to sex; you may be worried about your chances of surviving your cancer, or how your family is coping with the illness, or about your finances. Stresses like these can easily push everything else, including sex, to the back of your mind.

There is no medical reason to stop having sex at any time during your course of chemotherapy. It is perfectly safe, and the chemotherapy drugs themselves will have no long-term physical effects on your ability to have and enjoy sexual activity. Cancer cannot be passed on to your partner during sex and it won't make the cancer worse.

It is very important to take effective contraceptive precautions when having chemotherapy, as the chemotherapy drugs might harm the baby if pregnancy occurs. For this reason, your doctor will advise you to use a reliable method of contraception (usually 'barrier' methods – such as condoms or the cap) throughout your treatment and for a few months afterwards.

If you are taking the contraceptive pill, you need to check with your doctor if it is all right for you to continue using it. The side effects of chemotherapy, such as sickness and diarrhoea, can make the pill less effective.

It is thought that chemotherapy drugs cannot pass into semen or vaginal fluids. However, just in case, most hospitals advise that people having chemotherapy use condoms for up to a few days after the treatment has been given.

It is not always easy to talk about sex, but it can help to know what effects the chemotherapy treatment may have on your sex life. Your doctor or nurse at the hospital who should be able to tell you about this. If the idea of talking to them about these things is too embarrassing, you could contact our nurses. They will talk through any concerns you may have in complete confidence.

It may also help to discuss your feelings and worries with your partner. Perhaps your partner could join you if you decide you want to talk to your doctor or nurse.

In some women, chemotherapy brings on an early menopause (see below for more about infertility). This may cause symptoms such as dryness of the vagina and a decreased interest in sex.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be used by women with most types of cancer to prevent or reduce menopausal symptoms. However, doctors have concerns about using it for women who have had breast cancer or cancer of the womb (uterus). Some doctors feel that HRT may increase the risk of these cancers coming back, but others do not.

If vaginal dryness is making sex uncomfortable, your doctor may be able to prescribe a cream or ointment to help. You can also use KY Jelly® or other creams such as Replens® to moisten the vagina. These are available from your chemist without a prescription.