Cancer treatments, including hormonal therapies, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and gynecologic surgery have can cause vaginal changes that upend your sex life.
Up to 75% of women in recovery will experience vaginal pain, dryness, loss of elasticity, irritation, after cancer treatments, that affect your quality of life.
Intimate training self-care offers vaginal relief for sexual wellness after cancer.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy can damage the ovaries and reduce estrogen production, either temporarily, or permanently, leading to symptoms of vaginal dryness, loss of elasticity, inflammation and pain.
Breast cancer hormonal therapy: Hormonal therapy for breast cancer include medications that suppress systemic estrogen production and receptors (SERM's). Low vaginal estrogen leading to symptoms of vaginal dryness, loss of elasticity, inflammation and pain.
Pelvic Radiotherapy: Pelvic Radiotherapy (RT) is commonly used to treat cervical, vaginal, anorectal and pelvic cancers. Side effects can include vaginal adhesions, the shortening and narrowing of the vagina (stenosis). Pelvic radiotherapy can also affect the ovaries/estrogen production, causing medically induced menopause with associated symptoms of vaginal dryness, loss of elasticity, inflammation and pain.
Gynecologic surgeries: Surgical removal of the ovaries (Oophorectomy) for ovarian/uterine cancer (or BRCA positive preventive surgery) causes medically induced menopause, including symptoms of vaginal dryness, loss of elasticity, inflammation and pain.