Yes, you can absolutely still have sex while being treated for ovarian cancer. Vivian Ruszkiewicz, a Nurse Practitioner at OhioHealth, says she usually recommends holding off for about 48 hours after receiving chemotherapy, just to give your body time to work through the medication.
“Some people may not feel up to it, just because of fatigue or other side effects,” Ruszkiewicz said. “And that’s okay, too — listen to your body.”
Occasionally, after receiving chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, low platelet counts can increase infection risk, and for this reason, if platelet counts are really low, Ruszkieicz says, doctors might recommend that you abstain from intercourse temporarily.
Sex is also possible after having ovarian cancer surgery, Ruszkiecz says. But because the procedure involves removing your ovaries, it often results in menopause — which is sometimes associated with sexual side effects.
Ruszkieicz says that after surgery, most symptoms would be associated with menopause, including vaginal dryness and vaginal discomfort.
“There can also be some changes in body images after you have a surgery,” she says. “You may have a scar that’s new to you and new to your partner… so that’s another thing we talk about a lot.”
Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate most of these symptoms, Ruszkiecz points out. If someone needs pelvic floor strengthening, for instance, a physical therapist can be really helpful.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Vivian Ruszkiewicz is a nurse practitioner at OhioHealth. Read More
Yes, you can absolutely still have sex while being treated for ovarian cancer. Vivian Ruszkiewicz, a Nurse Practitioner at OhioHealth, says she usually recommends holding off for about 48 hours after receiving chemotherapy, just to give your body time to work through the medication.
“Some people may not feel up to it, just because of fatigue or other side effects,” Ruszkiewicz said. “And that’s okay, too — listen to your body.”
Read More Occasionally, after receiving chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, low platelet counts can increase infection risk, and for this reason, if platelet counts are really low, Ruszkieicz says, doctors might recommend that you abstain from intercourse temporarily.
Sex is also possible after having ovarian cancer surgery, Ruszkiecz says. But because the procedure involves removing your ovaries, it often results in menopause — which is sometimes associated with sexual side effects.
Ruszkieicz says that after surgery, most symptoms would be associated with menopause, including vaginal dryness and vaginal discomfort.
“There can also be some changes in body images after you have a surgery,” she says. “You may have a scar that’s new to you and new to your partner… so that’s another thing we talk about a lot.”
Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate most of these symptoms, Ruszkiecz points out. If someone needs pelvic floor strengthening, for instance, a physical therapist can be really helpful.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Vivian Ruszkiewicz is a nurse practitioner at OhioHealth. Read More
