Skip to main content
MCHS_Logo_2024_BLACK
  • Patient Portal
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services

      Featured Services

      • Cardiology (Heart)
      • Gastroenterology & Hepatology (Digestive Care)
      • Neurosurgery
      • Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB-GYN)
      • Oncology (Cancer)
      • Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery (Bones)
      • Primary Care
      • Spine Care
      • Sports Medicine
      • Surgery
      • Urology

      View all services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Lake City
      • Lake Crystal
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Rochester
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals
    Posted By
    Alicia Ogle, N.P.

    Alicia Ogle, A.P.N.P., R.N.

    Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB-GYN), Reproductive Endocrinology (Fertility)

    Recent Posts

    • Close-up of holding cellphone
      Speaking of Health
      Using ovulation tools to predict fertility
      June 13, 2023
    • Couple with faces together
      Speaking of Health
      Trying to get pregnant? Select a lubricant most helpful for sperm
      November 17, 2022
    • Boxers or briefs and fertility
      Speaking of Health
      Boxers or briefs? 4 common fertility myths debunked
      March 01, 2019
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight-loss (Bariatric) Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Speaking of Health
    Tuesday, July 18, 2023

    Fertility considerations in cancer treatment: Preserving hope for the future

    Topics in this Post
    • Cancer
    • Fertility
    • Transforming Healthcare
    Hugging from the back

    When a person is diagnosed with cancer, the focus is often on immediate treatment and recovery. However, it's important to consider the long-term effects of cancer and its therapies on fertility. These treatments can significantly affect a person's reproductive organs, potentially altering their ability to have children in the future.

    If you or a loved one is facing a cancer diagnosis, here's what you need to know about potential fertility implications.

    Cancers with higher fertility risks

    Cancer and its treatments can cause changes in your body. For some people, cancer damages a part of the reproductive process and affects fertility. For others, the necessary cancer treatments interfere with fertility. The likelihood that cancer treatment will harm your fertility depends on the type and stage of cancer, the cancer treatment method and your age at the time of treatment.

    Cancers that are more common in women, or people with ovaries, of reproductive age have a greater risk of affecting fertility. This includes breast cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, thyroid cancer and blood cancers like lymphomas.

    For men, or people with testicles, cancers in the pelvic area or those that require chemotherapy have a greater effect on fertility. This includes prostate cancer, testicular cancer, lymphomas, thyroid cancer and colon cancer.

    Cancer treatment

    Certain cancer treatments can harm your fertility. The effects might be temporary or permanent.

    Cancer treatment and its effects might include:

    • Chemotherapy
      This common cancer treatment targets and destroys active cells in the body. The ovaries and testicles, which are vital reproductive organs, contain a high number of active cells and are susceptible to damage from chemotherapy. This damage can affect the ability of the ovaries or testicles to produce viable eggs or sperm after cancer treatment, thus affecting fertility. Future fertility depends on various factors such as the type, duration and dose of chemotherapy and the patient's age. Patients who received alkylating chemotherapeutic agents may have higher risks compared to other medications.
    • Radiation
      This therapy also can affect fertility, primarily when administered in the pelvic area at high doses. In some cases, patients may opt to have surgery to reposition the ovaries from the radiation field, reducing the risk of damage.
    • Surgery
      Fertility also can be harmed by the surgical removal of the testicles, uterus or ovaries.
    • Other cancer medications
      Hormone therapies used to treat certain cancers, including breast cancer, can affect fertility. But the effects often are reversible. Once treatment stops, fertility may be restored.

    Preservation options

    Various fertility preservation options may be available for cancer patients before they undergo cancer treatment.

    • Freezing
      For women, egg freezing or embryo freezing are standard practices, with minor differences depending on whether the patient has a partner or intends to use donor sperm. These methods involve hormonal stimulation with injections over a few weeks and retrieval of eggs from the ovaries. The eggs can be immediately cryopreserved or mixed with sperm for fertilization for the cryopreservation of embryos.
    • Cryopreservation
      Another option is ovarian tissue cryopreservation, which involves removing and freezing part or all of an ovary. The ovarian tissue is divided into small strips and cryopreserved for future use. This method is particularly suitable for young girls who haven't reached puberty or women who need to start cancer treatment immediately. Men may consider sperm cryopreservation, which involves freezing and storing sperm for use at a later date. Testicular tissue cryopreservation also could be a consideration for boys before puberty.
    • Suppression
      Ovarian suppression may be considered but is not a proven method of fertility preservation. Ovarian suppression involves medications temporarily suppressing ovarian activity, potentially protecting the ovaries from chemotherapy's effects.

    During cancer treatment, radiation shields can protect fertility in men and women. This procedure places small lead shields over the ovaries or testicles to reduce the radiation exposure they receive. Proton radiotherapy also can preserve fertility by delivering targeted therapy and minimizing exposure to adjoining organs and tissues.

    Timing considerations

    If you are planning cancer treatment and want to preserve your fertility, talk to your oncologist and a fertility specialist as soon as possible. A fertility specialist can help you understand your options, answer questions and serve as your fertility advocate during your treatment.

    It's important to know that some preservation options may be limited if you are facing an urgent treatment need or other significant time constraints.

    The diagnosis of cancer and the treatment process can be overwhelming. However, you have options if you're concerned about how cancer treatment might affect your fertility. Don't wait. Talk with your care team about fertility preservation methods before you begin cancer treatment to help you make an informed choice.

    Alicia Ogle is a nurse practitioner in OB-GYN in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Jessica Bleess is a physician assistant in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

    Topics in this Post
    • Cancer
    • Fertility
    • Transforming Healthcare

    Related Posts

    Virtual care on cellphone Virtual care for people with cancer
    Roasted sweet potatoes with herbs Plant power: Using diet to lower cancer risk
    Lindsey Bruns with Daughter on Back After breast cancer, simple tasks become extraordinary feats

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Price Transparency
    • Community Resources
    • Mayo Clinic Connect
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Manage Cookie
    © 2018 - 2025 Mayo Clinic Health System