On 2/13/2008 didi719 wrote:
I had a bi-lateral mastectomy 7/07. Since I did not have lymph node involvement I did not have to have radiation or chemo. I have been taking Arimidex since my cancers were ER+. I have absolutely NO libido whatsoever. Has anyone else experienced this and is there any treatment?
I only had a left mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation and have been on Arimidex for two years. It took almost a year and a half before I decided that I was not only still a woman, (Oh, I forgot to mention, a hysterectomy in 1990 for cervical cancer), but that I was still capable of being attractive and sexual.
Once I got feeling well enough and got my head back together, I made the conscious decision to look better, which in turn made me feel better! I colored my hair, started using makeup again, dug out some clothes that I liked, being careful to make sure they would not show my prosthesis. I still have problems wearing high heels because of the neuropathy from chemo treatments, but I'm doing better with lower heels. Once I felt that I looked better and more attractive, it was easier to allow myself to relax and enjoy sex with my husband. No, the libido is not the same as it was but it's a vast improvement over what it was two years ago.
Yes, we do need Astroglide but that's a wonderful product and there are many others, easily available, that do not contain estrogen. I don't know how much help this gives you but I don't think it's the Arimidex alone that causes so much problem with sexuality. It's not a pleasant thing to be on but I look at the increased chance of survival and consider it worth the side effects.