Fertility and Sexual Health Information Session and Q&A

In February 2024 we held a joint webinar with OUTpatients about fertility, sexual health and cancer with Teenage Cancer Trust nurse Beth McCann who is a cancer nurse specialist.

The webinar covers lots of different topics, but an overview is: fertility preservation, your fertility after treatment, sexual health, your rights as an LGBTQ+ young person, and body image (a full list of content and timings are listed below.) It was an event for those aged 16 and over.

Please be aware the webinar talks openly about sex and sexual health. So, if you’re listening in a public place you may want to use headphones.

If you have any questions about the content, you can email socialcare.practitioner@younglivesvscancer.org.uk

More about OUTpatients

OUTpatients is the UK’s only LGBTIQ+ cancer charity. They are proudly led by and for LGBTIQ+ people affected by cancer (which includes partners and carers as well) and work hard to support and advocate for our community. They run online and in person peer support sessions, education sessions, and make bespoke resources. They have recently produced an amazing Sex and Cancer Info Hub which is available on their website here and is referenced in our webinar below. You can find them via their website, on Tiktok, Youtube, and Instagram.

Overview of the video with timings

02.00 Fertility preservation options

07.50 After treatment (for people with a testicle/testicles and/or sperm)

09.45 After treatment (for people with an ovary/ovaries and/or a uterus)

12.33 If you’re single or in a same sex relationship

13.15 Common questions

14.13 Sex and cancer

17.30 Oral sex

18.07 Anal sex

19.08 Further info

20.45 LGBT+ What to expect from your care team and your rights

25.50 Q: Are hot flushes always a sign of menopause of could it be something else?

27.20 Q: Sex feels different after treatment is this normal? I just had chemo and I didn’t think it would affect that | Why is sex painful now after treatment?

28.50 Q: Does chemo affect fertility?

30.30 Q: I’ve gained a lot of weight from steroids and now I hate my body. It’s affecting everything even my sex life do you have any advice? | How do you feel sexy when you’re bald due to treatment and your partner lacks attraction to you because of it?

35.00 Q: Is my pituitary tumour and my 18 month long period a sign of my fertility being impacted? Gynae prescribed a pill but I think it’s just covering symptoms not fixing me.

36.47 Q: I don’t get any urges at all. Had radiation for a brain tumour. Will I ever produce sexual feeling hormone now or have I damage from the radiation? I feel left out.

41. 50 Q: What resources are there for those diagnosed under 16 years old who have been out of treatment and out of the system for almost a decade in terms of fertility?

43.25 Q: Who do I reach out to to get into a late effects clinic?

44.05 Q: I now need irradiated blood if I were to need a blood transfusion. Could this mean additional risk to myself or a baby during pregnancy or childbirth?

45.12 Q: Will I ever have sex? I feel like I missed out because of the hospital and now that I’m older I feel like a freak.