How cancer treatment can affect fertility
Some cancers and cancer treatments can cause changes in your body that affect your fertility (your ability to have children). This could include hormone changes or damage to certain parts of your body.
According to the American Cancer Society, certain things make it more or less likely for you to have fertility problems because of cancer and cancer treatment.
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“For most women, cancer treatment is more likely to interfere with fertility than cancer itself. The American Cancer Society notes that each type of treatment might affect your reproductive organs and processes in different ways,” American Cancer Society states.
At the same time, the Society explains that other factors that might also affect your fertility include age and stage of development at the time of treatment, the type and extent of your surgery, the type of treatment and the dose and extent of that treatment.
Why cancer treatment affects fertility
According to Health experts, Cancer treatments are designed to destroy rapidly growing cancer cells; unfortunately, they can also damage healthy reproductive cells and organs.
However, the impact depends on several factors, including the patient’s age, the type of cancer, the treatment used, and the dosage received.
Some people experience temporary fertility problems, while others may face permanent changes.
According to the American Cancer Society, it’s very important not to get pregnant during chemo, since many chemo medicines can harm an unborn baby, leading to birth defects and miscarriage.
The Society further advises that if there is a chance you could get pregnant during treatment, it’s important to use effective birth control and also talk to your cancer care team about your best options.
Some women can get pregnant even when their periods have stopped, so it’s important to use birth control whether or not you have periods. Talk to your cancer care team about what’s best for you.
Chemotherapy and reproductive health
Chemotherapy is one of the most common cancer treatments linked to fertility issues.
Medics explain that radiation aimed at or near your ovaries might damage them enough to affect their function.
“Radiation aimed at or near your ovaries might damage them enough to affect their function. Both external and internal radiation therapy can expose your ovaries to radiation,” American Cancer Society explains.
In women, certain chemotherapy drugs can damage eggs in the ovaries, reducing the ovarian reserve. This may lead to difficulty conceiving or trigger early menopause.
