Your Sexual Health
Cancer and cancer treatments can affect your relationships, body image and intimacy. It may change the way you feel about sex. It is also common to have fears and worries that may affect your relationships with others. This can cause changes in your stress level and emotions.
What you can do to help:
- Talk to a member of your healthcare team about your fears and worries.
- Talk to your family and friends about your fears and worries.
- Ask a member of your healthcare team about programs or supports in your community.
- Keep a daily journal throughout your treatment.
For more information
Click here to view a downloadable handout with the information found below.
Support groups and education programs
- Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre or call 905-579-4833
- Look Good Feel Better Program or call 1-800-914-5665
- Virtual Online Programs
- Accepting Your Body After Cancer Treatment: Offered virtually to persons who have had breast or chest cancer.
Patient education resources available online
Alberta Health Services
- Cancer and Sexuality, Fertility, Body Image and Relationships
- Female Sexual Problems
- Smoking: Sexual and Reproductive Problems
Canadian Breast Cancer Network
Never Too Young: Psychosocial Information and Support for Young Women with Breast Cancer Care
Canadian Cancer Society
Cancer Care Ontario
- Intimacy and Sex: For People with Cancer and their Partners
- Prostate Cancer Patient Guide: How to Manage Sexual Health Problems
- Prostate Cancer Guide: How to Manage Hormonal Symptoms
Canadian Urological Association
Durham Regional Cancer Centre
- Breast Cancer: Information and Supports
- Fertility Preservation for People Who Produce Eggs
- Fertility Preservation for People Who Produce Sperm
- Managing Your Vaginal Symptoms
- Progressive Muscle Exercise
- Self-Sensate Focus Exercise
- Sensate Focus Exercises
- The Mirror Exercise
- Understanding Sexual Desire
- Understanding Erectile Dysfunction
- Using a Vaginal Dilator
- Wigs and Other Head Coverings
Fertile Future
Menopause Clinics
- Mount Sinai Hospital Menopause Clinic is a specialized clinic, caring for women experiencing menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, new sleep problems, mood changes, vaginal dryness, new joint pain, and abnormal uterine bleeding. A referral from your doctor is needed.
- The Gynecology Program at Women’s College Hospital offers care for women experiencing menopausal symptoms. A referral from your doctor is needed.
Pelvic Health Solutions
- Pelvic exercises for women or persons with a vulva/vagina
- Pelvic exercises for men or persons with a penis
- Finding a physiotherapist who specializes in pelvic health
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
The North American Menopause Society
Finding Sex Therapy and Counselling Supports
- BESTCO: Board of Examiners in Sex Therapy & Counselling in Ontario (sex therapist directory)
- Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapists or call 416-907-4620
- Psychology Today (Canada)
- Catholic Family Services or call 905-725-3513
- Durham Family Services or call 905-666-6240
Please talk to a member of your healthcare team if you have questions or do not understand information in any handout you were given.
Last reviewed: August 2024