Fertile Hope is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility.
hen facing cancer, survival is most important. However, you should know that the treatments used to fight your cancer may affect your ability to have children. This article includes general information about cancer-related fertility risks.
DEFINITION
RISK FACTORS
TREATMENT IMPACT
DEFINITION
In addition to causing immediate infertility, cancer treatments can also cause you to go into menopause early. Premature ovarian failure is defined as menopause before age 40.
Traditionally, it is widely believed that women are born with a finite number of eggs - you do not grow new ones. As you age, your supply of eggs naturally diminishes until you no longer have viable eggs left and you enter menopause. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation and surgery can speed up this process.
If your cancer treatments damage or destroy your entire egg reserve, you will be in menopause immediately after treatment. If you are in menopause, you are also infertile. Even if you are fertile after treatment, however, some portion of your egg reserve may still have been damaged. This reduction of your eggs means you will likely go into menopause earlier than you would have without cancer treatment, which makes family planning after treatment very important.
Some new studies suggest that women may be able to generate new eggs during adult life, similar to that seen for sperm production in men. These new studies are controversial and will hopefully lead to more research.
RISK FACTORS
In men, cancer itself can cause infertility. This is not as true for women, although any significant systemic illness may cause infertility in both genders. In women, cancer treatments can cause infertility. The following factors can influence your risk:
