Your sex life with mouth and oropharyngeal cancer

Treatment for mouth and oropharyngeal cancer can change the way you feel about sex.

Changes to your appearance may make you feel less confident about sex. It might change the way you feel about yourself and how you think others see you.

Talking things through with your partner might help you both adjust to a new situation together. Things might feel a little less awkward.

How you might feel

Cancer can cause many different emotions such as fear and anger. These emotions might affect how you feel about sex. Your partner might also feel very strong emotions. 

It is very common to have difficulty with intimacy and sex after cancer treatment. You can consider:

• talking things through with your partner 
• talking to your doctor or specialist nurse
• getting your GP to refer you to a counsellor 

Your doctor or nurse might be able to provide some advice or they can suggest where you can find support.  

Communication

Speech or communication difficulties might affect how you feel about sex. It might feel like more effort than before and it might change some of the spontaneous moments you and your partner are used to. 

Eye contact and touch might be alternative ways to show feelings if speech is difficult. 

Kissing

Some people's partners worry that they can catch cancer from others by kissing. But cancer can't be caught from somebody else. So you can reassure them. 

It is safe for you and your partner to kiss and have any type of physical contact that you feel comfortable with.