My girlfriend went through breast cancer and had multiple reconstruction surgeries. Unfortunately, after several attempts, almost everything is gone. I love her deeply, and I admire her strength more than anything. She means the world to me.
But I need to be honest: our sex life has changed a lot. Touching her reconstructee breast doesn’t feel the same anymore, and sometimes I find myself mentally blocking during intimacy. I hate that this affects me, because she had no choice in any of this, and she has already suffered so much. It makes me feel guilty for even thinking about it.
At the same time, I can’t deny that it does impact my arousal and the way I experience sex. I still want her, I still love her, but something feels different — and I don’t know how to process that.
Has anyone else been through something similar? How do you stay honest with yourself about these feelings while still being supportive and respectful to your partner?