Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. It has been estimated that there will be 279,100 new cases of breast cancer in the United States alone in 2020.

This disease can have a significant impact on a woman’s fertility, and many women are concerned about preserving their ability to have children after breast cancer treatment. Fortunately, modern medicine has made great strides in recent years to help preserve fertility in breast cancer patients, and there are now multiple options available to women who may want to have children in the future.

The Impact of Breast Cancer Treatment on Fertility

Various treatments for breast cancer, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, can have a significant impact on a woman’s fertility.

Chemotherapy drugs, in particular, can harm the ovaries and affect the quality and quantity of eggs they produce. The risk of infertility after chemotherapy varies depending on factors such as age, type of chemotherapy used, and the dose given.

Radiation therapy can also damage the ovaries and cause premature menopause, and surgery to remove the ovaries can obviously lead to infertility.

For many women with breast cancer, fertility preservation may not be a primary concern. However, for those who are younger and have not yet had children, the prospect of losing their ability to conceive can be distressing.

Fortunately, there are now several options available to women who want to try and preserve their fertility before undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Egg Freezing

Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, is a process in which a woman’s eggs are harvested from her ovaries and frozen for later use.

This technique has been available for over two decades, but recent advances in technology have made it more effective. The procedure involves taking fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries, then extracting the mature eggs and freezing them in liquid nitrogen.

When the woman is ready to use the eggs, they are thawed and fertilized with sperm to create embryos for transfer to the uterus.

Egg freezing has become an increasingly viable option for women with breast cancer who want to preserve their fertility.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology now recommends that women who will undergo chemotherapy regimens that may cause infertility consider egg freezing as an option. This technique can be performed quickly, typically over a two-week period, and can be done before breast cancer treatment begins. It also has a high success rate, with around two-thirds of eggs surviving the freezing and thawing process.

Embryo Freezing

Embryo freezing, or cryopreservation, is a technique in which fertilized eggs, or embryos, are frozen for later use.

This process involves using fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, which are then harvested and combined with sperm in a laboratory. The embryos are then frozen and stored until they are ready to be used. This technique has been available for over 30 years and has helped many couples conceive who would not have been able to do so otherwise.

Embryo freezing is another option available to women with breast cancer who want to preserve their fertility. The process is similar to IVF, which many women may have experienced before.

However, it has one major drawback – it requires a male partner or donor sperm. This can be an issue for women who do not have a partner or who cannot use their partner’s sperm due to genetic concerns.

For women who do have a partner or are willing to use donor sperm, embryo freezing can be a highly effective option for preserving fertility.

Ovarian Tissue Freezing

Ovarian tissue freezing is a relatively new technique that involves removing a small piece of the woman’s ovarian tissue before chemotherapy or radiation therapy begins. The tissue is then frozen and stored until the woman is ready to use it.

When she is ready to conceive, the tissue can be thawed and implanted back into the ovaries where it will begin to produce eggs again.

Ovarian tissue freezing is still an experimental technique, but it has shown great promise. The procedure involves minimally invasive surgery and can be performed relatively quickly.

It is also a viable option for women who cannot undergo ovarian stimulation for egg or embryo freezing due to hormonal concerns. However, there are some risks associated with ovarian tissue freezing, including the potential for the reintroduction of cancer cells into the body when the tissue is re-implanted.

Conclusion

A breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating, but modern medicine has made significant strides in recent years to help preserve fertility in women who want to have children after treatment.

Egg freezing, embryo freezing, and ovarian tissue freezing are all viable options for women who are concerned about their fertility. Each technique has its pros and cons, and it is essential for women to discuss their options with their healthcare providers and fertility specialists to determine which option may be best for them.

While these techniques are not available to or appropriate for every patient, they provide hope for many women who may have felt that their cancer diagnosis meant the end of their fertility.

By preserving fertility, these women can move forward with confidence and hope for their future.