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Sex during Cervical Cancer Treatment

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Last Modified: March 19, 2006

Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"

Is it safe to have sex while on treatment for cervical cancer?

Christina S. Chu, MD, Assistant Professor of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, responds:

If you have completed treatment for cervical cancer, it is usually safe to have intercourse. Patients who have been recently diagnosed, or who are currently undergoing radiation therapy, may wish to abstain because of vaginal bleeding or discomfort. Any patient who has recently undergone surgery for cervical cancer should abstain from intercourse for about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery to allow for the surgical site to heal. Please consult your physician and ask when it is safe to resume intercourse based upon your specific situation.