The Common Ovarian Cancer Side Effect Few People Talk About

Ovarian cancer can cause a variety of symptoms. Nearly every person going through cancer treatment suffers from fatigue and nausea. The cancerous mass can also push against other internal organs, causing abdominal pain, bloating, frequent urination, and symptoms similar to irritable bowel disease, such as constipation.

There is another symptom which hurts women suffering from ovarian cancer. It can even stick with these women well after the cancer has been treated and the other negative effects have become nothing but memories. It also tends to remain an unspoken issue, as we live in an unfortunately repressed society.

Diminished sexual function and satisfaction.

Ovarian cancer is known to be a silent killer. It has varied symptoms which often coincide with other medical conditions, so the actual condition is misdiagnosed, and before one is aware that they even have ovarian cancer, they are in the advanced stage of it. The cancer-causing mass has a tendency to push on other internal organs, leading to excessive pain during sex, pain in the abdomen, an increased urge to urinate, and bloating. A reduction in sexual satisfaction and functioning is one such symptom that remains even after the cancer has been treated. It is a known fact that any woman who develops ovarian cancer will suffer from sexual dysfunction. It can be either due to the cancer itself or the treatment carried out to fight it. One of the symptoms before diagnosing the cancer is pain that occurs during sexual intercourse. The penetration can lead to the mass being pressed onto the other internal organs, thereby causing excruciating pain.

Later on, during the course of medication or cancer therapy, it can also lead to a reduction in libido for a woman. It can also make her feel fatigued to the point that she finds it difficult to get aroused. For those with ovarian cancer, the doctor may need to perform an oophorectomy. This is essentially a procedure that not only involves the removal of the mass caused by the cancer, but also either one or both of the ovaries. Since the ovaries are considered an important sex organ, removal of them can lead to sexual dysfunction. Those women who have undergone this surgery often do not feel aroused and experience sexual dissatisfaction.

In such times, only your partner or spouse can help you get through these trying times. Cancer and the surgery are going to have a negative impact on one’s sexual life, but there has been certain evidence which confirms that, when one has a satisfying relationship with a trusted partner, they experience an adequate amount of sexual satisfaction. This means that, if you have a spouse who understands all your needs (which include the sexual issues as well), then it is more than enough to balance out the negative impact caused by the illness and its treatment. So, it is important to have good communication with one’s spouse, wherein they should also be willing to help out with these issues.

It is also good to speak to one’s doctor regarding this issue since they have all the resources for reclaiming sexual function after cancer treatment. Also, they can provide certain options for reconstructive surgeries to help out with this issue. Although it may be scary to carry out another surgery after all that cancer made you go through, it may be worth the effort since sex is known to have a huge impact on the quality of life of an individual. With all of this in mind, these temporary issues should not be something to worry about.