How is sexuality and fertility affected by brain tumors, radiation and chemotherapy?
Sexuality is very dependent on the patient’s general state of health and wellbeing. It should therefore not be surprising that being given the diagnosis of an aggressive brain tumor temporarily reduces sex drive (“libido”). This can often be helped with short-term counseling. The diagnosis of a brain tumor can also stress the most stable of relationships, and if this is a contributing issue, it can often be addressed by marital or couples counseling. Brain tumors themselves can affect sexuality, particularly if the tumor involves regions of the brain that control the release of hormones that affect libido, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. These same regions of the brain can be damaged by radiation therapy, leading to the same set of problems. Fertility in both males and females can be affected by chemotherapy. Male patients who are interested in having children during or after their treatment with chemotherapy should consider banking their sperm prior to treatment.
