Lack of Sex Drive SE of Hormone Therapy.

Anonymous

Lack of Sex Drive SE of Hormone Therapy.

Pattimills2017

I had my lumpectomy and sentinel node removal surgery last week.  My Dx is Stage II IDC with clear margins and negative node involvement. Estrogen+ Progesterone+ Hers2-.  My MO ordered the Oncotype DX test and results will not be back for 3 weeks.  Chemo is a ?.  Radiation is a yes and then she wants to follow up with Aromatase Inhibitors treatment.  I am reading terrible side effects.  I am 62.  I am a newlywed (10 mos). I was celibate for more than 20 years and now being a newlywed we are truly enjoying a very active sex life. I read how a Hormone Therapy side affect is lack of sex drive.  Is this due to hormonal changes?  Do most women have this side affect? I do not want to lose my desire for my wonderful, pleasurable husband.

beach2beach

I had a Bmx almost a year ago. No chemo or rads. Started Tamoxifen last September. I figured it would kill my mojo.... While I notice drying effects to my skin, sinuses etc. and maybe a little to the vaginal area it has not hindered my desire at all. I probably am my own worst enemy(we probably all are) with worrying if he would notice the dryness..then I started to psych myself out. I now just have around a personal lubricant that I can use if need be. He's been nothing but loving and understanding and it's all been good.

Just because there are listed side effects it doesn't mean you necessarily will have any or all of them. Hard enough to deal with dx of cancer than have to worry about side effects killing the things we enjoy. Try not to focus on it,,take it as it happens. May take a little more emotional foreplay and well as physical with some bottled help of lubricant(who knows, maybe not!) but don't write yourself a rx for trouble yet.

I am sure there are many other women on AI that still have a very active sex life..hopefully they will post on here or perhaps there is another thread somewhere else in the forum already.

Congrats on our Newlywed status!

Cpeachymom

patti- I was where you are about 7 or 8 months ago, wondering if our sex life was over. I did two helpful things. I bought a cheap jar of coconut oil at the recommendation of many on this site, and adopted a use it or lose it mentality towards sex. I use the coconut oil every day when I get out of the shower to moisturize down there.

I can say, things are fine. Like beach2beach, I’m a little slower to warm up, but he doesn’t mind. You may have to work at it a little more, and communicate a little more, but it’s worth it!

Good luck!