Sexual health after transplant

Not everyone experiences these changes, but in a study by Syrjala et al, nearly half of men and 80 percent of women reported lower sexual activity five years after transplant.   Sexual difficulties in women after transplant: • The chemotherapy and/or total body irradiation (TBI) received before transplant can cause premature ovarian failure (less common in women who undergo a reduced intensity transplant), early menopause, etc. • The problems often reported by women after transplant might include pain during sex, worries about germs and infection, etc.   Sexual difficulties in men after transplant: • The chemotherapy and/or total body irradiation (TBI) before transplant can reduce testosterone (most men recover normal levels within two years) damage small blood vessels or nerves in the penis over time, etc. • Some men report problems after transplant such as problems getting and/or keeping an erection, change in body image/perceived attractiveness, etc.   Abstract source