Do I need to protect my partner or myself (male)?

Yes. If you are sexually active you need to take some precautions.

It is best to wait at least 72 hours before having sex to protect your partner from exposure to chemotherapy. This is the average time it takes for chemotherapy to leave your body.

Chemotherapy medications may damage sperm. The damage your sperm could cause serious birth defects if you get your partner pregnant. Use birth control to prevent pregnancy. Even if your partner is using birth control, we recommend that you use latex condoms as they can also protect you from sexually transmitted infections.

Decide on a method of birth control and have it ready, before having sex. Talk with you oncologist if you need help choosing a method of birth control.

If you have had many blood transfusions, you may worry about getting an infection and passing it to your partner. This is extremely unlikely to happen as all blood donors and donated blood are carefully tested.

One thing you don’t have to worry about is giving your partner cancer. Cancer cannot be passed from one person to another.