Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can affect your fertility in different ways, and so can surgery on parts of the body involved in reproduction.

You may have had the opportunity to preserve your fertility through sperm storage or egg harvesting before treatment started, this is not always possible for a number of reasons. Your Survivorship CNS can help you with the process of checking your fertility status after treatment either through a post treatment semen analysis for males, or through taking some bloods for females. If needed, a referral to fertility services can be made - Infertility caused by cancer treatment can be temporary, a large proportion of people who have cancer treatments go on to have children.

You may have felt less interested in sex throughout your cancer treatment. Some treatments can cause side effects that make having sex difficult. This is not the case for every person receiving cancer treatment, a large proportion of people do not have their fertility or sex life impacted through treatment.

Sex itself can also be different after a cancer diagnosis, you may feel less interested in sex after cancer treatment. Some treatments can cause side effects that make having sex difficult. Or you may feel conscious about your body in some way that affects your confidence with having sex. Your Survivorship CNS can support you with these issues and if required refer you to appropriate services to support you.

Contraception: Unless you want to have children you should always use contraception, it is always important not to assume you are infertile after treatment. It is also important to protect yourself against sexually transmitted diseases by using condoms. Your CNS will be happy to discuss contraception options that best suit you. 

LGBTQIA 

As a young person you might already identify within the LGBTQIA community, or you might be questioning your sexuality or gender identity.

Sometimes how you feel about your sexuality or gender identity can be affected by a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Or maybe your cancer experience has been more challenging due to body image concerns or your gender affirming care has been affected by your cancer treatment.

Your Survivorship CNS can support you with any concerns you may have post treatment.

Or for online support Outpatients is the UK’s only cancer and LGBTQIA charity, led by the LGBTQIA community, Outpatients provides support through peer services, advocacy and information for patients throughtout treatment and beyond. OUTpatients - LGBTIQ+ Cancer Charity

For patients who are transgender or non binary? https://www.wearetransplus.co.uk/uk-cancer-and-transition-service/

If you are interested to join 'Shine LGBTQIA WhatsApp group' Follow this link lgbtqi - Cancer support charity for young people - Shine (shinecancersupport.org)