Asexuality

Polly_Ester

Is anyone else starting to identify as asexual after cancer treatment? I identify as gray asexual now. Rarely experiencing sexual attraction.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asexuality

trinigirl50

My vagina has practically atrophied, I have zero libido, and SEs from Letrozole have aged me by 20 years. I identify as sexually fucked up by cancer, but graysexual sounds better.

KarenJohnson

I am struggling with this too and it is breaking my heart. Thank you for this post.

Jennyb60

Graysexual is exactly how I’m feeling and as a single woman, it’s making it extremely difficult to date! I just met a really nice guy but I feel no sexual attraction coupled with the fact that I haven’t dated since before my diagnosis so I feel...out of practice...and I’m just having a hard time getting into this new relationship. Am I never going to be sexually attracted to another guy? That’s a really depressing and scary thought.

Daylightdancer666

I too be honest not had sex in over three years have no interest in sex or sexuslly attracted anyone put my libido being low due to anti depressants at one stage I was having one night dtsndd I'm only 32 now not at all xxx

CinM

I have been on Letrozole for three years.  In the last year, I have had NO sexual desire at all.  My wonderful husband of 37 years has been amazing through it all but I want to feel that romance again.  So sad. 

MCBaker

Been like that all of my life. Tried to be "normal" for many years, but it brought about too much pain. Not sad at all about it, especially now that it is no longer regarded as pathological. There are more things to enjoy in life than sex.

karynhelen

yes! That’s me and it’s horrible. I was on Tamoxifen for 4 years and then after a hysterectomy I switched to Letrozole.

Just quit Letrozole after 2 years because of HSDD. Zero interest in sex. Almost an aversion now. It’s impacting my marriage.

I’m tied of reading articles telling me to masterbate, eat avocado toast, exercise, eat and sleep well.... and everything will be fine.

Grrrrrrrr is there ANYTHING out there that helps?

Jackster51

I'm with you ladies. I feel like a walking talking tree. Or about as sexual as a tree. So sad. Was 47 at DX and single since then. Sad to think this is it, but seeming like it is. I really miss having a sex life and sexual desire. Now....nada.

kar123

Same here. I was ok during chemo, but about a year after that and starting the AI's my desire just plummeted. I feel sad for my husband and for me. I miss that intimacy.

redhead403

I am tired of people tells me that yoga, massage, meditation all make hot flashes better. Honestly not buying any of that crap.

breaktheice

I know that feeling. I feel like I`m going through a grieving period, losing this image that I had for my life of what my future would look like. That's all changed and that's sad. I hope the new version of my future will be good,but I don't know what it looks like yet. Or how to get there.

beach2beach

I felt ok the first 6 months or so after starting tamoxifen. Then the dreaded dryness and plummeting libido. I try and try. I use the Vit E ovules to provide moisture and do all I can to feel it. I initiate even when I don't really want it, hoping that it will jump start something in me. I want to feel like I used to, but I'm trying to make peace that that ship has sailed and I'm going to have to make do on land. Mentally being tired sucks and I need to be in it mentally to remotely even work. I worried that my partner would get tired of this crap with me, but he has been really good and tries hard with me. Sometimes I wonder if for me at least, part of the battle is me worrying so much about not feeling it that I make it worse.

santabarbarian

I wonder if cannabis would be any help in this department? Might be worth a try....

Polly_Ester

It helps a lot of things for me, but this isn't one of them.

Polly_Ester

Thank you to everyone for your input on the subject.

The way treatment has changed us, it's very hard to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it first-hand.

Khakitag

I’m reading all these posts and can’t stop crying. It’s so sad to lose your sexuality, both for you and your SO. I’m not sure my marriage could withstand it and that scares the hell out of me. I am trying to decide whether or not to do the rads and tamoxifen. all you ladies had invasive ca and mine isn’t, just DCIS. It seems like it’s not worth the misery just to decrease my chance of a recurrence. Knowing what you know about the drug, would you do it all over again now?

Polly_Ester

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Yes, I would have still opted for the recommended treatment. I just wish I was a bit more prepared. Most doctors I've had are more concerned about loss of fertility rather than loss of sexual function. I was warned of the effects this treatment has on sex drive, but they didn't explain the severity of it.