What Is Fertility Like After a Cancer Diagnosis? Receiving a cancer diagnosis completely transforms a person’s life. Between medical appointments, tests, and urgent decisions, questions arise that go beyond the immediate treatment.
This is where oncofertility comes in, a field of medicine that combines oncology and assisted reproduction to help preserve the ability to have children after cancer treatment. In recent years, this discipline has become increasingly relevant thanks to higher survival rates and the growing need to ensure long-term quality of life for patients.
Why talk about fertility after cancer?
Most cancers diagnosed in people under 50 have excellent prognoses. For example, more than 90% of women with early-stage breast cancer survive five years or more. This means that after overcoming the disease, many wish to continue with their life plans, including starting a family.
However, different cancer treatments can affect fertility by damaging reproductive structures. That’s why it’s essential to address this topic before starting treatment, to understand the available options and take timely action.
How do cancer treatments affect fertility?
Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and some targeted therapies can impact ovarian reserve and egg quality.
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Radiation therapy: Even low doses can destroy a significant number of oocytes.
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Chemotherapy: Accelerates follicular loss, reducing ovarian reserve and even causing early menopause.
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Other treatments: May alter hormonal function, ovarian blood flow, or directly damage the DNA of germ cells.
Even so, every case is unique, and the risks depend on age, cancer type, treatment dose, and the specific protocol used.
Fertility Preservation Options
Thanks to advances in reproductive medicine, there are now safe and effective alternatives to preserve the possibility of having children after cancer:
1. Egg or Embryo Freezing
This is the main and most effective technique. It involves stimulating the ovaries to retrieve oocytes, which are then frozen or fertilized to create embryos.
2. Ovarian Tissue Preservation
Used when cancer treatment must begin immediately, as it does not require prior ovarian stimulation.
3. Ovarian Suppression with GnRH Analogs
A complementary option that may help reduce ovarian damage during chemotherapy.
Efficient and Emerging Protocols
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Random-Start: Allows ovarian stimulation to begin at any point in the menstrual cycle, avoiding treatment delays.
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DuoStim: Performs two stimulations in the same cycle to obtain more oocytes in less time.
These techniques offer cancer patients a greater chance of preserving fertility without affecting their cancer treatment.
Is ovarian stimulation safe for cancer patients?
Current research shows that ovarian stimulation is safe, even in hormone-dependent cancers. With medications like Letrozole or Tamoxifen, hormone levels remain controlled without increasing the risk of recurrence and without delaying chemotherapy.
A Future With Fertility After Cancer
Fertility after a cancer diagnosis is not only possible, it is now considered part of comprehensive cancer care. Oncofertility provides tools to preserve oocytes, embryos, or ovarian tissue, ensuring that patients can maintain hope for a future family. Discussing these options early can make a significant difference.
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