with breast cancer what kind of birth control method can we use?

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RooDee
RooDee Member Posts: 21
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I still want to be intimate with my husband and be there for him as he's been there for me while going through the treatments, but how can you prevent the side effects? like vaginal dryness and low libido?

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  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #2
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    Estring
    If you are ER or PR positive, you can still use some products. I was both and went on a product called "Estring", a flexible ring inserted in the vagina that will stay in place for 3 months before needing a replacement. It will deliver estrogen where it is needed. Though the manufacture states that the blood will not pick up estrogen that isn't quite true. My gyn doc at the time told me about 1% of estrogen the blood would pick up. My 2nd tumor was 95% ER and 60% PR and I used the product for 8 years until my 3rd recurrence.

    Quality of life is as important as quantity of years. I liked the product because I didn't have to think about it for 3 months. I did not use any other product with it. I was on Arimidex at the time. I was using an inhibitor as well as a distributor.

    Good luck in your choice,

    SIROD
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #3
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    I've been using a diaphram
    I've been using a diaphram (sp?) since my daughter was born, almost 10 years now. Check with your OB, and ask him/her to consult with your oncologist. There are so many new options now, you'll find the right solution.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #4
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    Too old to worry
    Don't have a clue - 20 years too olod to worry! LOL

    Seriously - possibly tube tying or a vascetomy?
  • LadyParvati
    LadyParvati Member Posts: 328
    #5
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    A little X-rated--hopefully with helpful tips!
    I can't help with the birth control question either. Thoughts on other side effects:

    We tried several different lubricants. The "warming" ones stung--I think the chemo affects your vaginal membranes a LOT--not only making them more dry but also more sensitive. Some of the others stung, too. My favorite turned out to be "hydra-smooth" cream lubricant, which doesn't have cream in it--it's just thicker than some lubricants, which seemed to help a lot. It's water-based, too, making it safer.

    Now it gets a little x-rated:

    The second big solution was to go slow. My DH would stroke me a lot before ever trying to enter me--we focused on the intimacy rather than the actual sex, and we focused on making each other feel loved. This really helped me get in the mood even when I hadn't been to start with. Even when he finally began to enter me, he wouldn't try to penetrate all at once, but barely entered and then waited while stroking and stimulating me and while I just evened out my breathing and concentrated on the good sensations and relaxing into them. Then he would push in just a little more and continue his stroking . . . Gradually, I would reach a point where he could go all the way without hurting me, and then I would really enjoy it.

    Hope you and your DH can find a way to help each other with this--it's really about helping each other--you helping him find what helps you and vice versa. Good luck!

    Sandy
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #6
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    LadyParvati said:

    A little X-rated--hopefully with helpful tips!
    I can't help with the birth control question either. Thoughts on other side effects:

    We tried several different lubricants. The "warming" ones stung--I think the chemo affects your vaginal membranes a LOT--not only making them more dry but also more sensitive. Some of the others stung, too. My favorite turned out to be "hydra-smooth" cream lubricant, which doesn't have cream in it--it's just thicker than some lubricants, which seemed to help a lot. It's water-based, too, making it safer.

    Now it gets a little x-rated:

    The second big solution was to go slow. My DH would stroke me a lot before ever trying to enter me--we focused on the intimacy rather than the actual sex, and we focused on making each other feel loved. This really helped me get in the mood even when I hadn't been to start with. Even when he finally began to enter me, he wouldn't try to penetrate all at once, but barely entered and then waited while stroking and stimulating me and while I just evened out my breathing and concentrated on the good sensations and relaxing into them. Then he would push in just a little more and continue his stroking . . . Gradually, I would reach a point where he could go all the way without hurting me, and then I would really enjoy it.

    Hope you and your DH can find a way to help each other with this--it's really about helping each other--you helping him find what helps you and vice versa. Good luck!

    Sandy

    Wow Sandy
    you blew me away. Thank you for sharing. I still believe that intimacy problems are the worse side effects of Chemo and anti-estrogen therapy treatments.
    I just bough Liquibeads, have not tried them yet. Others did not work for me.
  • RooDee
    RooDee Member Posts: 21
    #7
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    LadyParvati said:

    A little X-rated--hopefully with helpful tips!
    I can't help with the birth control question either. Thoughts on other side effects:

    We tried several different lubricants. The "warming" ones stung--I think the chemo affects your vaginal membranes a LOT--not only making them more dry but also more sensitive. Some of the others stung, too. My favorite turned out to be "hydra-smooth" cream lubricant, which doesn't have cream in it--it's just thicker than some lubricants, which seemed to help a lot. It's water-based, too, making it safer.

    Now it gets a little x-rated:

    The second big solution was to go slow. My DH would stroke me a lot before ever trying to enter me--we focused on the intimacy rather than the actual sex, and we focused on making each other feel loved. This really helped me get in the mood even when I hadn't been to start with. Even when he finally began to enter me, he wouldn't try to penetrate all at once, but barely entered and then waited while stroking and stimulating me and while I just evened out my breathing and concentrated on the good sensations and relaxing into them. Then he would push in just a little more and continue his stroking . . . Gradually, I would reach a point where he could go all the way without hurting me, and then I would really enjoy it.

    Hope you and your DH can find a way to help each other with this--it's really about helping each other--you helping him find what helps you and vice versa. Good luck!

    Sandy

    Whoa!!!
    Sandy you made me blush with this one, haha!
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #8
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    RooDee said:

    Whoa!!!
    Sandy you made me blush with this one, haha!

    Ok, I am going to make
    Ok, I am going to make myself blush too, but I am a nurse first, so here goes.
    I use a product called replens and it works well but works best about an hour after using. It might work really well with Sandy's cream.

    Also, extra stimulation is crucial for you now, so invest in a good vibrator (there I said it). If you are not fully aroused, intercourse will be more painful. Vermont Country Store sells aids discreetly (gotta love those practical yanks) under their apothecary section (then go to intimate solutions).

    Most important, don't forget to just cuddle when you are really not in the mood. I think, more than anything else, our significant others just want to be reassured that we still love them and that they are desirable. Communicate, communicate, communicate!

    As far as birth control, I think a diaphragm or IUD might be ok, but I would talk with my OB/GYN. I had a tubal ligation under threat of more cancer from my oncologist. Danny offered to have a vasectomy, but I wasn't sure how long I had, so I wouldn't let him. That was 23 yrs ago--I should have let him...lol.
  • RooDee
    RooDee Member Posts: 21
    #9
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    CypressCynthia said:

    Ok, I am going to make
    Ok, I am going to make myself blush too, but I am a nurse first, so here goes.
    I use a product called replens and it works well but works best about an hour after using. It might work really well with Sandy's cream.

    Also, extra stimulation is crucial for you now, so invest in a good vibrator (there I said it). If you are not fully aroused, intercourse will be more painful. Vermont Country Store sells aids discreetly (gotta love those practical yanks) under their apothecary section (then go to intimate solutions).

    Most important, don't forget to just cuddle when you are really not in the mood. I think, more than anything else, our significant others just want to be reassured that we still love them and that they are desirable. Communicate, communicate, communicate!

    As far as birth control, I think a diaphragm or IUD might be ok, but I would talk with my OB/GYN. I had a tubal ligation under threat of more cancer from my oncologist. Danny offered to have a vasectomy, but I wasn't sure how long I had, so I wouldn't let him. That was 23 yrs ago--I should have let him...lol.

    Thanks CC
    I will check it out ( replens). As far as vasectomy, my husband has family history of cancer his mom died of BC and his brother has prostate cancer and theres a study that links vasectomy with prostate and testicular cancer...so we don't wanna take that chance. Last night was the first night we had sex again since I had my surgery, we used a condom...it doesn't feel good at all and to be honest with you I wasn't really into it and if given a choice right now I can live without it (or maybe because I'm still healing and still sore from the surgery), but it wouldn't be fair to him. Cancer sucks!!!

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