Corel Medical Series: Cancer/Corel Medical Series: Cancer.iso/mac/Program/p23.dxr/00083_Field_SRC.p23.A.18.txt

Text File | 1997-02-04 | 2KB | 18 lines

  part of the natural recovery process, they will be less likely to distract you from sexual pleasure if they do
  happen.
• Give yourself time. You and your partner may be frightened of, or even repulsed by, scars, unfamiliar
  appliances or other physical changes. That's natural too. But such feelings are usually temporary. Talking
  about them is often the first step to mutual support and acceptance. Don't pressure yourself about having to
  "work on sex." A satisfactory and enjoyable sex life will happen one step at a time. You may want to spend
  some time by yourself exploring your body, becoming familiar with changes and rediscovering your unique
  body texture and sensations. Once you feel relaxed doing this, move on to mutual body exploration with a
  partner.
• Take the pressure off intercourse. Almost all of us were brought up to believe that intercourse is the
   only real or appropriate way of expressing ourselves sexually. Yet sexual expression can encompass many
   forms of touching and pleasuring that are satisfying psychologically and physically.
      When you resume sexual activity, try spending some time in pleasurable activities—touching, fondling,
  kissing and being close—without having intercourse. Re-experience the pleasure of playing, of holding and of
  being held without having to worry about erections and orgasms. When you feel comfortable, proceed at your
  own pace to other ways of being sexual, including intercourse if you like.
      Experiment and explore to discover what feels best and what is acceptable. If radiation therapy , for example,
  has made intercourse painful, try oral or manual stimulation to orgasm, or intercourse between thighs or