Some cancer treatments and certain treatments may alter hormone levels or harm a female’s eggs, making it impossible to conceive in the future. These side effects cause some females to lose their fertility during treatment, which can be temporary or permanent. You should consider New York fertility preservation if you have a medical condition requiring treatment that may harm your reproductive organs and prevent you from having a child once you’ve recovered.
Effects of cancer treatments on fertility
Certain cancer treatments can harm your fertility. The consequences could be either temporary or permanent. The likelihood that cancer treatment will negatively impact your fertility is determined by the type and stage of cancer, the type of cancer therapy, and your age at the initiation of therapy. Cancer treatments and their consequences may include:
Surgery – Fertility can be compromised by surgical removal of the testicles, uterus, or ovaries.
Chemotherapy – The effects vary according to the drug and the dose. Younger females who receive chemotherapy are less likely than older women to become infertile.
Radiation – Depending on the location and size of the radiation field and the dose administered, radiation can be more dangerous to fertility than chemotherapy. High doses of radiation, for example, can destroy some or all of the eggs in the ovaries.
Other cancer treatments – Hormone therapies used to treat certain cancers, such as breast cancer in women, can impact fertility. However, the effects are frequently reversible. Fertility may be restored once treatment is completed.
Effects of cancer treatment on health problems in children born later
Cancer treatments do not appear to increase the risk of congenital disorders or other health problems for future children as long as your baby is not exposed to them in the womb. However, if you are receiving a cancer treatment that affects the functioning of your heart or lungs, or if you are receiving radiation in your pelvic area, you should consult with a specialist before becoming pregnant to prepare for potential pregnancy complications.
Is fertility preservation safe?
There is no proof that prevailing fertility preservation methods harm the success of cancer treatment. However, delaying surgery or chemotherapy to pursue fertility preservation may endanger the success of your treatment. Most fertility preservation procedures do not appear to be associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence. However, based on the cancer’s type and stage, there is a risk that reimplanting frozen tissue will reintroduce cancer cells.
Appointment with your doctor
If you consider cancer treatment and want to keep your fertility, consult with your physician and a fertility specialist immediately. A fertility specialist can aid you in understanding your alternatives, answering questions, and acting as your fertility advocate during your treatment. A single cancer therapy session can harm your fertility, and for women, some fertility preservation methods are typically performed during specific phases of the menstrual cycle. Inquire whether you will need to postpone cancer treatment to take fertility preservation steps, and if so, how this will affect your cancer.
The cancer diagnosis and treatment process can be overwhelming. You do, however, have options if you are concerned about how cancer treatment may affect your fertility. Call Innovation Fertility Preservation and IVF today, or make an appointment online to learn more.
Comments are closed.