breast cancer treatment and how they affect fertility

Breast cancer treatments can impact fertility in different ways. For example: Chemotherapy can reduce the number of eggs in the ovaries. Hormonal therapy treatments such as tamoxifen

or aromatase inhibitors, often given for 5 to 10 years, can interfere with the timing of starting a family.

Full Answer

How does breast cancer affect your fertility?

• The most effective preventative measure is to start IVF before cancer treatment. ...
• Another option that some women choose is to have their eggs frozen. ...
• When breast cancer treatment must be started right away, some women decide to have part of their ovarian tissue removed and frozen in order to be re-implanted once treatment has ...

Does fertility treatment raise breast cancer risk?

Fertility drugs do not increase breast cancer risk, study finds. Drugs routinely used during fertility treatments to release eggs do not increase the risk of developing breast cancer, new research has shown.

Do fertility drugs increase your risk of getting cancer?

There are studies that seem to show that fertility drugs do not increase your risk of cancer, and there are studies that say they do. There are plenty of reasons to be suspicious of possible consequences to manipulating a woman’s hormone levels. Anything that changes hormone levels could increase the risk of hormone related cancers, such ...

Can fertility treatments cause cancer?

While infertility per seis a risk factor for some female cancers, including breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer, most studies do not show a significant risk of these cancers with the use of fertility medications.

How cancer and cancer treatment can affect fertility in females?

Chemotherapy (especially alkylating agents) can affect the ovaries, causing them to stop releasing eggs and estrogen. This is called primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). Sometimes POI is temporary and your menstrual periods and fertility return after treatment.

Can having breast cancer cause infertility?

Studies have found that about half of young women with breast cancer say they would like to have a child after completing treatment. But some treatments for breast cancer, such as certain types of chemotherapy, can cause infertility.

Can you get pregnant after breast cancer treatment?

You should wait at least 1 year after completing chemotherapy before trying to get pregnant so your body has time to clear out any damaged eggs. Chemotherapy and some other cancer treatments can harm a growing embryo or fetus.

Does breast radiation affect fertility?

Radiation treatment for breast cancer has no effect on fertility. But if you're also having chemotherapy and definitely want to get pregnant in the future, you may want to start fertility treatment BEFORE you start radiation.

Does tamoxifen affect fertility?

Tamoxifen is not known to cause infertility, but it may interfere with childbearing because of the duration of the treatment—usually five to 10 years—during which time women should not get pregnant.

Does tamoxifen make you more fertile?

In the initial phase of tamoxifen treatment, it may stimulate ovulation and thus making the women more fertile. With continued use, in some women (approximately half) periods become less regular, lighter or stop altogether.

Can a woman have a baby after chemotherapy?

Some health care providers recommend that women not get pregnant in the first 6 months after finishing chemotherapy. They say that any damaged eggs will leave the body within those first 6 months. Other health care providers suggest waiting 2 to 5 years before trying to have a baby.

Which chemotherapy causes infertility?

Chemo drugs that are linked to the risk of infertility in females are: Busulfan. Carboplatin. Carmustine.

Can you have children after mastectomy?

Women who have been treated for breast cancer are less likely than the average woman to get pregnant and have a higher risk of certain complications, such as preterm labor. However, research shows that most of these women deliver healthy babies and childbirth has no effect on their long-term survival.