An intimate question

Hello Kasia,

Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Megan, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

Welcome to the online community. I can see that you have joined the Cervical cancer forum, Radiotherapy & Side Effects forum and Cancer treatment forum; I hope you have found these communities warm and supportive.

I’m sorry to read that your cancer treatment for cervical cancer is now affecting your sex life. Our link on Vaginal changes, sexual well-being and cancer has lots of general information about changes to the vagina and things to try that may help in the immediate, that I hope you find useful.

As explained pelvic radiotherapy can cause the vagina to shorten, narrow and can also cause the walls of the vagina to become fragile and bleed easily. Although this is a known side effect from pelvic radiotherapy, we would still strongly encourage you to tell your cancer team or GP so that they can confirm the cause of the bleeding and give you further advice.

Vaginal dilation is often recommended as the first-line treatment for side effects of pelvic radiotherapy. As well as preventing scar tissue from forming, the use of vaginal dilators can also help to break down scar tissue that has already formed and increase blood flow to the area.

Although surgical treatments do exist for vaginal stenosis, surgery to the area can also leave scar tissue that has a similar effect and more often than not the continued use of vaginal dilators is still recommended after surgery.

I would strongly encourage you to discuss your concerns and the use of vaginal dilators with your hospital team or GP. You may find our information on talking about sex with your healthcare team helpful.

Experience sharing with others, such as reading or sharing stories, can also be a great way to get information and support. Macmillan, Radiotherapy UK, Pelvic Radiation Disease Association and The Pelvic People all offer a variety of information and support where it is possible to do this.

I hope this information is useful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support.

The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

Best wishes, Megan

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

Ref MD/AP