A cancer diagnosis can be devastating and can bring about concerns for future planning as aggressive treatments can heavily affect your fertility before you’re ready to conceive, forcing you to make choices you didn’t ever expect to make.

How Cancer Treatment impacts both male and female fertility.

  • Chemotherapy medications have been known to destroy/decrease the number of eggs a woman has in her ovarian reserve which can lead to infertility. A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have, so a depletion of her current reserve can greatly impact her ability to conceive naturally later in life.
  • Radiation therapy to the pelvis or whole abdomen (belly) destroys eggs in a similar way to chemotherapy. Radiation may also damage the uterus, causing fibrosis (scarring).
  • Chemotherapy can damage sperm in men and sperm-forming cells. Hormone therapy (also called endocrine therapy) can also decrease the production of sperm.

Preserving fertility in patients with Cancer: What you need to know.

Usually, within the first few days of a cancer diagnosis, you will be prompted to meet with a fertility team to discuss the diagnosis and treatment plan and how it may affect your fertility long term. If you are looking to conceive at a later date, you will be shown the various fertility preservation options available.

Before you start preservation treatment, your doctor will then perform tests to evaluate your current fertility status. This will help determine which form of fertility preservation is the best option for you. After you have completed your cancer treatments and are ready to start your family, your fertility can be assessed again and treatment with your preserved samples can be started if needed.

Fertility Preservation for Women

Fertility Preservation for Men

Options for Women After Cancer Treatment

Why New Hope?

New Hope Fertility Center is home to world-renowned fertility specialists. We custom-design fertility treatments for the individual to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. Our specialists believe in putting the patient first and being with them through every step of the fertility journey. Our team is well-versed in helping women of all ages reach their fertility goals and we are passionate about educating, and supporting our patients throughout their journey. If you want compassionate fertility care, New Hope is the right place for you. Call us at (347) 970-8479 or schedule your initial consultation today!