VIDEO
How Do I Look? : Life After Breast Cancer
What information does my healthcare providers need to know to assist me with my sexual health?
Specialists in sexual health are skilled in working with survivor issues and concerns. By consulting with a specialist, issues about your innermost sexual fears or concerns that may seem “silly” can be taken seriously and addressed accordingly.
Talk about your first sexual experiences, any instance of sexual abuse, sexual preferences, types, and number of sexual partners, and activities in which you engage. By sharing these very personal details, a professional can help you work toward your goals and facilitate your healthy adjustment and movement through this phase of your life.
Often, a sexual healthcare provider can be an advocate for sharing sensitive topics with your partner. Most sexual health specialists are comfortable using sexually explicit terms, understand traditional and alternative sexual practices, and are trained to deal with desire discrepancy concerns, body image issues, and sexual pain. They typically focus on sexual health issues in a more comprehensive fashion than other members of your breast cancer treatment team.
Should I discuss sexual health issues with my oncologist(s), or should I wait until they are brought up with me?
Always bring up sexual health issues with your healthcare provider(s), even if you feel embarrassed or are unsure about which words to use. Although most oncologists, obstetrician/gynecologists, and family practice medical providers believe that sexual health is vital to an individual’s overall health, they are often focused on other issues surrounding cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up or may feel time constraints during their busy clinic day.
They may feel that if sexual health were an issue the patient would voice a concern.
Your oncologist has likely heard similar concerns in the past and may have a list of qualified referrals for sexuality-focused psychological counseling or medical care. Asking for help may be the first step toward your sexual comfort, renewed interest, and overall satisfaction.
Magnolia Myrick:
Honey, if having cancer hasn’t taught you to be proactive about your health and everything else in your life, now would be a good time to start. Nobody’s going to do it for you as well as you can. Absolutely ask your healthcare provider anything. At worst, she or he doesn’t know the answer and can refer you to someone who does. Not asking has far worse consequences than overcoming a little shyness. You’re the one in charge here. And I promise: You will feel so good and so relieved that you did bring it up, you will wonder why on earth you hesitated in the first place.
