![]() |
Testicular cancer can create a fear and ambivalence in men about sex. Will I have a sex drive after treatment? Will I become sterile or impotent? Will my significant other be put off? There are... |
Testicular cancer can create a fear and ambivalence in men about sex. Will I have a sex drive after treatment? Will I become sterile or impotent? Will my significant other be put off? There are a number of things you should keep in mind in regards to your sex life both during and post-cancer therapies.
1. Information is important! Learn all you can about your particular type of testicular cancer. Find out what the best treatment options are for you as well as how you will be physically affected. Talk with your doctor and other cancer specialists about your concerns regarding your sexuality. If you know what to expect, you can create a plan to compensate for those possibilities.
2. Always remember that pleasure can still be derived from sexual touching. There are a few types of treatment which can interfere with you being able to attain an erection. Sometimes, surgical procedures can damage the nerves which control the ability to achieve an erection or receive an orgasm. Luckily, medical advances are mostly kept the inability to achieve orgasm and erections to a minimum. That is not to say though that there may not be temporary issues that eventually resolve themselves. Just know that there are alternate ways to achieve orgasms through special massage and other touching.
3. Recognize that there is more than one way to attain pleasure sexually. Actual penetration is not the only way to achieve orgasms but some people have a narrow view that it is the only way. Take your cancer diagnosis as a sign to explore a bit sexually and learn additional ways to both give and receive pleasure. Enlist the help of your spouse or companion to find these alternate avenues of sexual release.
4. Keep an open line of communication with your doctor and sexual partner. Avoiding the issue of sex while undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment will actually make the situation worse. If you feel lost and do not know what to do to rekindle your sex life, talk with your doctor to see what methods you can try. Be open and honest with your partner about your feelings regarding sex and what you would like to try in order to make sex more pleasurable for both of you.
5. Find things that will boost confidence in yourself as well as others in you. Often, cancer treatments can alter your appearance like losing your hair on your head as well as other parts of your body. Embrace the changes. If you show confidence and acceptance in yourself, others will follow suit. Buzz off your hair before it falls out; find trendy hats or bandanas.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle with diet, exercise and more. Do not be afraid to seek emotional help from your doctor, a psychologist or even a cancer support group. You have to feel good about yourself first.
Everything about boosting your sex life during and after testicular cancer treatment boils down to communication. Your partner is not a mind reader. In fact, they may be ambivalent about making the first move because they are unsure just where you stand. Communicate – it is the best medicine for any sex life.