Most people are able to have a normal sex life after having bowel cancer. You will need time to get over surgery, or any other treatment. The effects mentioned here don't affect everyone who has bowel cancer treatment and they may get better over time. Occasionally, the changes can be permanent.
You may feel embarrassed to talk to doctors or nurses about sexual problems. If you tell them about any problems you have, they can find ways of helping you to deal with them. You should not have sex for at least 6 weeks after major surgery. But there is no reason why chemotherapy or radiotherapy should stop you making love if you want to. Many people do not feel like having sex while they are having treatment. Try not to worry about this. Side effects and general tiredness are bound to get in the way.
If you have had a colostomy or ileostomy you may also feel self conscious about the change in your body. Some bowel cancer treatments affect your ability to have children fertility.
Your healthcare team should discuss this risk with you when you are diagnosed. You can get support to help you cope. Research suggests that sexual problems are quite common in people after treatment for colorectal cancer. Surgery to the bowel or back passage rectum can affect the nerves to the sex organs. This can cause sexual problems in both men and women. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can also cause changes which can affect your sex life.
A man may not be able to get, or keep, an erection and may have dry orgasms. There are a number of treatments available for erectile problems. A woman may find that her vagina shrinks slightly and begins to get a bit narrower after radiotherapy for bowel cancer. Regular sex can help to gently stretch the vagina. Or you can use vaginal dilators.
