It is usually safe to have sex during cancer treatment unless your doctor tells you not to. Talk with your doctor to see whether it is safe for you to participate in sexual activities. Be aware that:

• If you are having sex during chemotherapy, you may wish to use barrier protection, such as condoms or dental dams (for oral sex), since chemicals can be found in semen or vaginal fluid.
• Radiation to you from an external machine does not make you radioactive or endanger a partner in any way. If you have a type of radiation therapy that involves using a source of radiation that stays in your body over time, there may be a period when your doctors want you to stop sexual activity until the strongest radiation has left the body.
• Sex can be a problem if you have bleeding in the genital area from cancer, if you have recently had surgery, or if your immune system is very weakened.

Cancer treatment can cause a variety of sexual changes. Even though the causes may be different--surgery, chemotherapy, hormone treatment, and radiation--the resulting changes are often similar.

Surgery

Chemotherapy

Hormone Treatment

Radiation