Fertility after cancer

Around 1 in 10 cancers are diagnosed in people of reproductive age. Advances in cancer treatment have greatly improved long-term survival for many young adults and women who previously faced a poor prognosis.

However, some operations and many forms of chemotherapy or radiotherapy can affect the ovaries, testes, or uterus. Damage to the eggs within the ovaries may reduce ovarian function, cause periods to stop, and sometimes lead to premature ovarian insufficiency. Women of reproductive age may therefore face reduced future fertility or a lower chance of having children.

Cancer treatment does not necessarily mean giving up the hope of having a family. Today, in some—but not all—situations, women with cancer may be able to preserve fertility by freezing eggs or embryos before treatment. Men may be able to freeze sperm.

Our first priority is to work with your oncology team to support the safest and most effective cancer-treatment plan. In parallel, and in close coordination with your oncologist, we can discuss fertility-preservation options in detail and, when clinically appropriate, arrange treatment promptly—sometimes within 48 hours. If, after counselling, you decide to proceed with fertility preservation, treatment can often begin immediately so that planned cancer therapy is not unnecessarily delayed.

Ioannis A. Sklavounos MD MSc DFFP
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Specialist Training and Fellowship in the United Kingdom
T.Senior Clinical Fellow – Liverpool Woman’s Hospital UK

IVF

Fertility & IVF Centre in Marousi

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