Shannen Doherty says cancer has killed her libido: ‘Sex doesn’t feel as good’

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Shannen Doherty‘s cancer treatment has ruined her sex drive.

“When you’re feeling not great about yourself, that’s going to kill your libido,” Doherty, 52, said on the most recent episode of her “Lets Be Clear” podcast.

Television star Shannen Doherty revealed Monday that being intimate with another person has been less enjoyable since she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in 2015. FilmMagic
Television star Shannen Doherty revealed Monday that being intimate with another person has been less enjoyable since she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in 2015. FilmMagic

“But then when it actually impacts your libido, when meds take your libido away, or it makes things not as pleasant, sex doesn’t feel as good,” the “Beverly Hills, 90210” alum continued.

Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation at the time. She is currently battling Stage 4 cancer.

Last year, she underwent brain surgery, and revealed in November that her cancer has spread to her bones.

Doherty’s good friend Anne Marie Kortright attempted to persuade the “Heathers” star to work on her own sexual wellbeing.

“Even though we’re both conservatives in our own upbringings and like our backgrounds … I think the modeling business is a little bit more open than the way you were,” Kortright, 41, said.

The model added that in an effort to help her long-time pal, she took Doherty to an obstetrician/gynecologist named Dr. Sherrie Ross.

“Of course I took Shannen to the OB appointment and I sat there with her because that’s what I do,” Kortright laughed.

“She took me because, you know, I specifically said her, ‘I need to do something,'” Doherty chimed in. “Things aren’t working and this isn’t the life that I want to live.”

“I also don’t want my husband to live like this,” the “Charmed” actress said, referring to her ex-husband, Kurt Iswarienko, whom she divorced in 2023.

 Anne Marie Kortright, a good friend of Doherty’s and who was also appearing on the podcast, revealed that she attempted to persuade the “Heathers” alum to work on her own sexual wellbeing. Instagram/theshando
Anne Marie Kortright, a good friend of Doherty’s and who was also appearing on the podcast, revealed that she attempted to persuade the “Heathers” alum to work on her own sexual wellbeing. Instagram/theshando

According to the model, Dr. Ross gave the actress sex toys to use in order to stimulate herself.

“She goes, ‘Here Shannen, take this,’ and Shannen, like, shoves it in her bag. She’s like, ‘You think you can see it?’ and I’m like, ‘No one can see it, no one knows it’s there!’ She’s like, ‘Are you sure?’” Kortright went on.

“I was beet red,” Doherty admitted.

“I also don’t want my husband to live like this,” the “Charmed” actress said referring to her ex-husband, Kurt Iswarienko, who she divorced in 2023. Vivien Killilea/WireImage
“I also don’t want my husband to live like this,” the “Charmed” actress said referring to her ex-husband, Kurt Iswarienko, who she divorced in 2023. Vivien Killilea/WireImage

Additionally, Doherty said that her drive for intimacy depleted simply because of her age.

“Perimenopause, menopause, just getting older — all of it impacts not just your exterior,” she said. “It’s also impacting the whole way that your body is reacting and responding and then you add to that, cancer meds, you add to that, chemo, or and it just zaps you of everything.”

“It takes away your confidence,” the “Kiss Me Deadly” star added. “It takes away your identity.”

Doherty’s NSFW confession comes after the actress shared that she recently had a “miracle” breakthrough while battling her deadly cancer.

“I’m not gonna say what it is, I’m on a new cancer infusion, and after four treatments, we didn’t really see a difference and everybody wanted me to switch, and I just kinda was like, ‘We’re gonna keep going with this and see,’” she told her radiation oncologist Dr. Amin Mirhadi on an episode of her podcast last month.

“And yeah, after the sixth or seventh treatment, we really saw it breaking down the blood-brain barrier.”

“That it’s actually breaking down that blood-brain barrier is actually a miracle of that drug, a miracle of maybe God intervening and saying, ‘I’m gonna give her a break,’” she shared. “Sometimes you’re looking for miracles in all the wrong places, and they’re right in front of your face.”