Cancer Treatment Affect

How does cancer treatment affect fertility?

Certain cancer treatments — including the surgical removal of your reproductive organs or chemotherapy or radiation that affects your reproductive organs — can harm your fertility or cause sterility. The effects, which may be temporary or permanent, can occur immediately or at some point after treatment. The likelihood that cancer treatment will harm your fertility depends on several factors, including: 

• Type of cancer and cancer treatment.  Male fertility can be harmed by the surgical removal of the testicles, or chemotherapy or radiation that damage sperm quantity, structure, motility or DNA. Certain cancer treatments can also cause ejaculation or hormonal problems. Female fertility can be compromised by cancer treatments that involve the surgical removal of the uterus or ovaries. Cancer treatment can also affect the development of eggs, hormone levels, or the functioning of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus or cervix. Women who are initially fertile after cancer treatment may experience premature menopause. The effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy depend on the drug or size and location of the radiation field, the dose, intensity of the dose and how treatment is given — orally or intravenously. The most severe damage is caused when radiation is applied to the ovaries or testicles and by chemotherapy drugs called alkylating agents.
• Age at the time of treatment. The risk of developing premature menopause after certain cancer treatments increases as you age. Older women are also more susceptible to permanent ovarian damage.