Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy are the most common treatments for breast cancer. These treatments can help you fight the disease and improve your chances of survival. However, they can also have negative effects on your fertility.

They can damage your eggs or make it harder for you to become pregnant in the future. This is why it’s important to consider fertility preservation options before you begin treatment.

Talk to Your Doctor

Your doctor can help you understand your options for fertility preservation and guide you through the process. They can help you determine the best course of action based on your age, stage of cancer, and overall health.

They can also refer you to a fertility specialist who can provide more in-depth information about your options.

Egg Freezing

Egg freezing is the process of extracting and freezing eggs from your ovaries for later use. This can be done before you begin breast cancer treatment.

The eggs can be thawed, fertilized with sperm, and implanted into your uterus through in vitro fertilization (IVF) when you’re ready to become pregnant. The success rate for pregnancy through egg freezing is around 30 to 60 percent for women under 35 years old.

Embryo Freezing

Embryo freezing is similar to egg freezing, but instead of freezing your eggs, your eggs are fertilized with sperm to create embryos. The embryos are then frozen for later use.

This option may be ideal if you have a partner and want to ensure that their sperm is used. The success rate for pregnancy through embryo freezing is around 40 to 60 percent.

Ovarian Tissue Freezing

Ovarian tissue freezing involves removing a small piece of your ovary and freezing it for later use. When you’re ready to become pregnant, the tissue can be implanted back into your body. The tissue will then start producing eggs again.

Ovarian tissue freezing is still considered experimental and has a lower success rate than egg or embryo freezing.

Chemotherapy and Fertility

Chemotherapy can affect your fertility by damaging your eggs. This can cause a decrease in the number of eggs you have or cause premature menopause. Chemotherapy drugs are categorized as low, medium, or high risk for fertility.

Your doctor can help you determine the risk level of the drugs you’ll be receiving. If you’re at a high risk for fertility damage, your doctor may recommend fertility preservation options.

Radiation Therapy and Fertility

Radiation therapy can damage your eggs, ovaries, or uterus. The damage can lead to a decrease in the number of eggs you have or cause premature menopause. The level of damage depends on the dose and location of the radiation.

If the radiation is directed at your pelvis, the risk of damage is higher. If you’re receiving radiation therapy to your chest wall, your ovaries may be shielded to reduce the risk of damage.

Hormone Therapy and Fertility

Hormone therapy is often used to treat breast cancer that is hormone-receptor-positive. This type of therapy works by blocking the hormones that feed the cancer cells.

However, hormone therapy can also cause a decrease in estrogen levels, leading to vaginal dryness and a decrease in libido. This can make it harder to become pregnant. Your doctor may recommend fertility preservation options if you’re planning to become pregnant in the future.

Conclusion

While breast cancer treatment can have negative effects on your fertility, there are options for preserving your fertility before treatment.

Talk to your doctor about your options and determine the best course of action based on your individual situation. Fertility preservation can help you maintain your dream of starting or growing your family after breast cancer.