Sexual Health and Cancer
Schedule an AppointmentAfter a diagnosis of cancer, changes in libido and sexual function are very common, yet overlooked topics of discussion.
80% of women with a history of cancer report negative side effects from treatment. Partnered or unpartnered, sexual function is an important aspect of quality of life and thriving after cancer.
Men and women can report changes in desire, pain with intercourse, difficulty achieving orgasm or maintaining an erection.
At Marsden Centre, we take a holistic approach to sexual health.
We investigate the causes that contribute to decreased libido. We take a trauma informed and evidence based approach to discussing sexual health.
It is common to address the following questions:
- Do I need birth control and if so, what types are safe?
- How can I preventing urinary tract infections post cancer treatment, pain after surgery or radiation.
- If I feel up to it, can I have sex while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation – are there concerns to my partner?
- How do I get my libido back?
- How can I stop sex from being painful?
Treatment
Custom designed treatment to match your specific health concerns and conditions.
Initial visit
In the initial visit, you can expect a full intake to obtain a complete picture of your health. This includes a screen for any underlying mental health imbalances, such as anxiety and depression. In addition to questionnaire intakes, we would get relevant bloodwork done to check for any suboptimal levels that may be other factors contributing to sexual health concerns. Our goal is to investigate other causes of low libido or suboptimal sexual performance that could be due to numerous causes, such as medications, hormonal imbalances, and lifestyle disturbances. In the initial visit, you can expect a full intake to obtain a complete picture of your health. This includes a screen for any underlying mental health imbalances, such as anxiety and depression. In addition to questionnaire intakes, we would get relevant bloodwork done to check for any suboptimal levels that may be other factors contributing to sexual health concerns. Our goal is to investigate other causes of low libido or suboptimal sexual performance that could be due to numerous causes, such as medications, hormonal imbalances, and lifestyle disturbances.
Some topics you can expect to be discussed during your initial visit include:
- Investigate root causes of libido changes and applying naturopathic modalities
- Education on lubricants vs moisturizers and how to choose non-toxic products
- Discussing mental/emotional component of sexuality after cancer – learning to connect to body again through specific exercises and methods of breathing
- Assessing the need for referral when applicable to either pelvic health physiotherapists, psychotherapists, or other health professionals
- Strengthening foundational habits, such as sleep and exercise
1-2 week follow up
The first follow-up appointment will occur 1-2 weeks after your initial visit. In this appointment, you can expect the following:
- Interpretation of blood work and other diagnostic tools to update the advanced treatment plan; this can include: bioidentical hormones
- Possible referral for medical cannabis if applicable with our in-house nurse practitioner
- Integrative work with in-house Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
- Consideration of intravenous therapies
- Advanced testing when needed (i.e. hormone panels)
- Check-in on referrals from other practitioners such as pelvic floor physiotherapists and psychotherapists
1 month follow up
In the second follow-up 1 month after the initial, you can expect the following:
- Any additional modifications to the treatment plan based on any advanced testing that was done in the previous visit
- Renewal of any treatment plan prescriptions, including bioidentical hormones, supplements, clinical nutrition, and botanicals
3 month follow up
At the 3-month mark, you can expect the following for your visit:
- Maintenance plan
- Tracking progress and assessing any need for renewals
There are options (both hormonal and non hormonal) to help restore sexual function. We use botanicals, lifestyle, counselling and acupuncture and we are aware of the evidence surrounding hormone therapy, especially in hormone positive cancers. We are happy to discuss these options with you. We have a nurse practitioner on our team if a referral for cannabis or for hormone therapy is needed.