A kidney cancer diagnosis can affect many parts of your life, including intimacy, relationships, body image, and sexual health. Treatment side effects, emotional stress, pain, fatigue, and changes in hormone levels can all affect how you feel physically and emotionally.

These changes can be frustrating or isolating, but they’re also common. Talking about sexual health with your cancer care team may feel uncomfortable at first. Still, learning about the possible effects of kidney cancer and its treatments may help you feel more prepared and make it easier to have open conversations with your partner and healthcare team.

In this article, we’ll cover six ways kidney cancer and cancer treatment may affect your sex life, along with strategies that may help you manage these challenges and maintain intimacy.

How Can Kidney Cancer Impact Your Sex Life?

A kidney cancer diagnosis can profoundly affect your relationship with your body and your loved ones. Being open about these changes, when you feel comfortable, may help strengthen communication and emotional closeness in your relationships.

Treatment for kidney cancer can include surgery, ablation (a procedure that destroys tumors), targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Some people may be offered chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These treatments can cause physical and emotional side effects that may interfere with your sex life.

Here are some possible changes you might experience.

In a study on men and women who had nephrectomy (kidney removal surgery) for kidney cancer, 15.7 percent reported a lower libido (sex drive). Some participants said they didn’t have the energy for sex. One male participant said he had performance anxiety during the first months after surgery.

Doctors may prescribe medication for pain or depression related to kidney cancer. Some of these medications are known to cause low libido.

In addition, immunotherapy for kidney cancer may lower libido as a side effect by affecting levels of certain sex hormones (chemical messengers that help regulate sexual function and desire).

For some people, medications or other supportive treatments may help manage this side effect. Sexual desire may also improve over time after treatment ends.

Several treatments for kidney cancer may contribute to erectile dysfunction (difficulty getting or keeping an erection). Some targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and chemotherapies — which is rarely used for kidney cancer — may affect testosterone levels. The body needs testosterone to help support sexual desire and erections.

Kidney cancer surgery may also affect erectile function. In one study, about 55 percent of men who had a nephrectomy or similar surgery reported trouble achieving an erection.

Erectile dysfunction after surgery may be linked to changes in blood flow, kidney function, stress, fatigue, or other health conditions. In some cases, surgery near the abdomen may also affect nearby nerves or blood vessels involved in erections.

When possible, surgeons try to avoid damaging nearby tissues and nerves, and erectile function may improve over time for some people.

Radiation therapy may also affect erectile function. These side effects from radiation therapy may develop months or years after treatment.

Chemotherapy (used in a small percentage of kidney cancer cases) and radiation therapy may affect estrogen levels and lead to vaginal dryness. As a result, sex may feel uncomfortable or painful for some people.

Vaginal dryness is common during menopause and after some cancer treatments. Hormone levels can change during treatment, so this side effect may improve after treatment ends.

Ask your oncology team what to expect and how to manage this side effect. They may recommend lubricants, vaginal moisturizers, or other supportive treatments to help reduce discomfort.

Kidney cancer can cause persistent pain in the lower back or side of the body. This can make some sex positions uncomfortable. Cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, including vaginal dryness, fatigue, or soreness after surgery, can also make sex painful for some people.

If pain affects intimacy, you may need to try different positions or new ways to connect physically and emotionally with your partner. Your healthcare team may be able to suggest pain management strategies or other supportive treatments to help reduce discomfort and improve intimacy.

It’s normal to experience emotional ups and downs after a kidney cancer diagnosis. Mood changes can affect many parts of daily life, including sleep, appetite, physical activity, relationships, and sexual health.

You may go through periods of anger, frustration, sadness, anxiety, or emotional numbness. At times, these feelings may affect how you communicate with the people around you.

If you’re experiencing anxiety or depression, you deserve support. A qualified mental health professional, counselor, or support group may help you cope with difficult emotions and relationship challenges. They can also help you find healthy ways to communicate your needs and feelings.

Kidney cancer and its treatments can change how you feel about your body. Symptoms and side effects such as urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control), surgical scars, weight changes, or skin changes may make some people feel self-conscious or less confident during intimacy.

These physical and emotional changes can affect self-esteem and sexual confidence. Your healthcare team may be able to help manage some physical symptoms or treatment side effects.

It’s also important to focus on the qualities that make you feel strong, attractive, and connected to others. Some people find it helpful to do things that boost confidence, such as:

• Getting a new hairstyle
• Wearing clothes that feel comfortable and expressive
• Spending time on hobbies and self-care

Joining a support group may also help you connect with people who understand what you’re going through.

Start the Conversation

It’s important to be open about sexual concerns with your partner and cancer care team. You may need to be the one to bring up the topic yourself.

Honest communication can help reduce stress, strengthen relationships, and improve intimacy.

Talk to Your Partner

If you’re in a long-term relationship, you may already know that dynamics can shift through different phases of life, and that includes cancer survivorship. A kidney cancer diagnosis is bound to bring some twists, turns, and detours to your story.

If you’re having trouble discussing sex with your partner, consider your options. Maybe meeting with a counselor or sex therapist would make it easier. You can do this on your own or together.

You could also consider writing down your thoughts or fears. Sharing with your partner can help strengthen your bond. It can also reassure them that your sexual connection is a priority for you, even if circumstances are different right now.

Be Open With Your Healthcare Team

Your kidney cancer care team should know about any concerns related to sexual health. You deserve clear information about how cancer and treatment may affect different parts of your life, including intimacy and relationships.

Sexual health is an important part of overall well-being. Your healthcare providers are trained to discuss sensitive topics, and if they cannot help directly, they may refer you to another specialist.

You may want to ask your healthcare provider questions such as:

• How might this treatment affect my sexual function?
• Are the side effects temporary or long-term?
• Is there anything I can do to reduce side effects or improve symptoms?
• Are there resources or specialists you recommend?

Medications, counseling, pelvic floor therapy, and other supportive treatments may help manage some sexual side effects of cancer treatment. But you may not learn about these options unless you ask.

Join the Conversation

On MyKidneyCancerTeam, people share their experiences with kidney cancer, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you experienced sexual problems since being diagnosed with kidney cancer? Let others know in the comments below.