Sexual health and wellbeing are important parts of your overall physical and emotional health. Womb cancer and its treatment can affect these aspects of life in many ways. You may experience changes in how you feel about yourself, your body image, your self-confidence, and how you think others perceive you.
Starting a conversation about sex with your healthcare team can feel uncomfortable or even intimidating. It’s completely normal to feel unsure or embarrassed when talking about something so personal. But, asking questions and getting the right support is an important step in looking after your wellbeing.
Physical Impact of Womb cancer treatment
Understanding why these changes are happening can help ease worry or anxiety. It may also make it easier to talk openly with your partner or others close to you. You’re not alone—and support is available to help you navigate this part of your recovery with confidence and care.
Surgery
Many women diagnosed with womb cancer will have a hysterectomy as part of their treatment. This surgery can affect how sex feels. Some women notice a reduction in sexual pleasure, as the womb can play a role in muscle contractions during orgasm. A hysterectomy may also lead to a shortening of the vagina, which can make sex feel different, and it may become more difficult to feel aroused or reach orgasm.
Menopause
Surgical menopause -caused by the removal of the ovaries during womb cancer treatment – can have a profound impact on sexual health and emotional wellbeing. The sudden drop in hormone levels can lead to symptoms such as vaginal dryness, reduced libido, mood changes, and hot flushes, which may affect intimacy and confidence. Unlike natural menopause, which occurs gradually, surgical menopause happens abruptly, often without the emotional or physical preparation time. This can feel overwhelming, especially when layered with recovery from cancer. Many people report feeling disconnected from their bodies or struggling with changes in sexual sensation and arousal.
Radiotherapy
If you have radiotherapy to the pelvic area, you may experience side effects such as vaginal dryness, scarring, shortening, or narrowing of the vaginal canal. This condition is known as vaginal stenosis, and it can make internal examinations or vaginal sex painful. Some women may also experience light bleeding after sex, as the blood vessels in the vaginal lining can become more fragile. If you do experience bleeding this needs to be investigated by your doctor or clinical team, but it may be related to radiotherapy.
To help manage these changes and reduce discomfort, your healthcare team may recommend using lubricants during vaginal sex, or vaginal moisturisers to relieve dryness. In some cases, vaginal oestrogen (available as a cream or pessary) may be suggested to improve moisture and comfort. However, the use of vaginal oestrogen will depend on your individual diagnosis and treatment history, and it may not be suitable for everyone.
Your clinical team may ask you to use vaginal dilators with lubricants to help stop the vagina from narrowing or shortening. A dilator is a tube-shaped device that you use regularly to gently stretch the vagina to prevent it from narrowing. How long and how often you use the dilator for depends on you and the advice from your clinical team – somewhere between 6 and 9 months is common. Some women find using dilators difficult, it can be uncomfortable and even painful at first, but regular practice can result in considerable improvements.
The dilators come in a kit with different sizes which your clinical team should provide. You may also buy your own from a pharmacy or online.
Emotional Impact of Womb cancer Treatment
Everyone’s emotional response to womb cancer and its treatment is unique—but many people share common feelings as they process the experience. It’s entirely natural to go through a wide range of emotions, including low mood, anxiety, frustration, anger, sadness, and shame. These reactions can stem from any aspect of diagnosis and treatment, including changes to the body, identity, and future plans.
Here are some emotional challenges that are often experienced during recovery:
Loss of Confidence
Changes to your body—whether visible or internal—can deeply affect how you see yourself. You may feel less attractive or worry about how others perceive you. This shift in self-image can lead to a loss of confidence and impact how you relate to intimacy or relationships.
Grief
Many people experience a sense of grief following treatment. This can be particularly strong after surgery or when fertility is affected. It’s not uncommon to mourn the version of yourself that existed before cancer. Some describe feeling “incomplete” or “not the same,” especially after a hysterectomy or other significant procedures. These feelings are valid and deserve compassionate attention.
Fear
The idea of returning to intimacy after treatment can be daunting. Fear of pain, injury, or emotional vulnerability may surface, especially when considering penetrative sex. This fear can become a barrier that leads to avoidance of intimacy altogether. It’s important to know this fear is shared by many—and it can be addressed with support.
Pain During Sex
Painful intercourse (called dyspareunia) is one of the most common physical side effects after gynaecological cancer treatment. Many people worry that sex will hurt, or that they may harm themselves or be hurt by their partner. This concern is completely understandable, and there are effective ways to manage and treat this pain with medical and therapeutic support.
Loss of Interest in Sex
A reduced interest in sex—known as low libido—is very common following cancer treatment. It can be linked to fatigue, hormonal changes, pain, emotional stress, or self-image concerns. You may feel disconnected from your partner, worry they no longer find you attractive, or struggle to enjoy sex in the way you once did. Vaginal dryness, bleeding, numbness, or reduced sensitivity can all contribute to this change.
It’s important to remember that a shifting sex life after cancer is not unusual—and it does not mean that intimacy is out of reach. With time, support, and patience, many people find ways to reconnect with their bodies and partners in ways that feel empowering and fulfilling.
What Can Help You Manage These Feelings?
Be Kind to Yourself
Rebuilding your sex life after cancer can take time—and that’s completely normal. It’s common to feel anxious or uncertain about intimacy, especially in the early stages of recovery. One of the most important things you can do is be patient with yourself. There is no timeline or pressure.
You may need to rediscover what feels pleasurable and comfortable in your body. This can involve exploring intimacy in new ways. Taking small steps and tuning in to what feels right for you can be a powerful part of the healing process.
Rediscovering Intimacy
Intimacy after cancer may look and feel different, and that’s okay. For many people, vaginal penetration may no longer feel desirable, possible, or pleasurable. But intimacy doesn’t have to depend on that. You might discover new ways of connecting emotionally and physically that are just as meaningful.
Communication
Many people feel hesitant to talk about how sex has changed after treatment—worried they won’t be understood or accepted. Some withdraw emotionally or physically out of fear of rejection or misunderstanding.
But open, honest communication can make a huge difference. Sharing how you feel with your partner—what you’re comfortable with, what concerns you have, and what support you need—can ease anxiety on both sides. Often, partners are just as nervous, afraid of causing pain or doing something wrong. Starting the conversation can help reduce those fears and build mutual trust.
Recovering from womb cancer involves more than physical healing – it includes rebuilding your emotional and sexual wellbeing. It’s normal to experience a range of emotions, from grief and fear to a loss of interest in sex or confidence in your body. Pain during intimacy, anxiety about relationships, or the effects of surgical menopause can all impact your sense of self and connection with others.
There is no timeline for recovery, and every journey is personal. With patience, self-compassion, and open communication, it’s possible to rediscover intimacy in ways that feel authentic to you. If you’re finding it difficult to navigate changes in your sexual wellbeing after cancer, you may benefit from speaking with a psychosexual counsellor. These specialists are trained to support people dealing with the emotional and physical effects of cancer on intimacy and relationships. They can help you explore your concerns in a safe, understanding space—and guide you toward rebuilding confidence, connection at your own pace, if you feel you may benefit from this service your GP or clinical team can arrange a referral. Please contact [email protected] for further guidance and support.
