# Sex, contraception and barrier protection during and after chemotherapy

Source: https://onco.cc/protocols/sex-and-contraception-during-chemotherapy/  
OnCo record `sex-and-contraception-during-chemotherapy` (Protocol). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Chemotherapy can harm an unborn baby, and pregnancy is still possible even when fertility is affected, so anyone who could get pregnant, or get a partner pregnant, needs contraception during treatment and for a time after. Condoms are usually advised, and they also protect a partner from traces of drug in body fluids after some treatments. Ask your team which method suits you and for how long.

## Summary

Patient guidance from Macmillan (2018), the NHS (2025) and NCI (2023) agrees that chemotherapy can harm a pregnancy, that contraception is needed by anyone who could get pregnant or make a partner pregnant during treatment and for a time after, that a pregnancy test may be done before treatment, and that pregnancy remains possible even when fertility is reduced. Macmillan says barrier methods are usually best during treatment, condoms (or a dental dam for oral sex) for a few days after certain drugs protect partners from drug in body fluids, and breastfeeding is not advised. NCI says to prevent pregnancy for a year after chemotherapy and that some teams suggest two methods. The Society of Family Planning (2025) recommends offering a discussion of contraception before treatment to everyone who is pregnancy-capable, says emergency contraception is safe, recommends nonhormonal contraception first line after breast cancer (GRADE 1B) and avoiding oestrogen-containing methods with oestrogen-blocking therapy (best practice), and supports access to all methods for most other cancers. US MEC 2024 lists breast cancer among conditions in which pregnancy carries added risk. ASCO 2025 says fertility preservation should be discussed before treatment. The ESMO 2020 fertility and pregnancy guideline could not be read.

## Fields

- Kind: Protocol
- Last checked: 2026-11-11
- Also known as: contraception during chemotherapy; condoms after chemotherapy; pregnancy prevention during cancer treatment; sex during chemotherapy; birth control and cancer treatment

## Connected records

- ideas: [Default fertility preservation referral for every patient under 40 before treatment](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-acc-default-fertility-preservation-referral/)
- protocols: [Oral anticancer medicines at home: prescribing, teaching, adherence, storage, handling and disposal](https://onco.cc/protocols/oral-anticancer-medicines-at-home/)
- technologies: [Oncofertility and fertility preservation](https://onco.cc/technologies/fertility-preservation/)
- terms: [Cancer during pregnancy](https://onco.cc/terms/cancer-in-pregnancy/)

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