My Cancer Fertility

There’s no one size fits all answer here. Even without a cancer diagnosis, fertility status varies greatly from one person to the next and most people don’t know their “baseline” fertility before a cancer diagnosis. But, the risk of infertility due to cancer treatment can range from 20-80%. Because of this, we encourage all patients to meet with a fertility preservation specialist to learn about their options and figure out an individual treatment plan.

The length of delay will depend on the fertility preservation option you decide on. For example, sperm banking can be done in 1-2 days, ovarian and testicular tissue cryopreservation can be done within 1 week, and egg/embryo banking typically takes about 2 weeks. Talk to your cancer care team to understand your fertility options.

Yes! There’s no way to know for sure exactly how much damage will be done to your reproductive system during cancer treatment, which means you could still be fertile during or after treatment. It’s best to continue using contraception if you do not want to be surprised. As always, talk to your doctor about your treatment and side effects. Some treatments, such as chemo and radiation, will require you to use contraception or abstain from sex for a certain period of time to protect yourself, your partner, and, if you get pregnant, your future child. Your doctor can also help you determine which contraceptive method is best for you.

Depending on your health status, options may include fertility treatments with donor sperm or egg, adoption, and/or use of a surrogate. Talk to your cancer care team or a reproductive specialist about your options for family building.

No. Cancer’s impact on your fertility depends on your diagnosis, the treatment you underwent, and other factors. Fertility and family planning should be an ongoing conversation with your doctors, regardless of where you’re at in the cancer process. In some cases, breaks in treatment can be an opportunity to seek a consultation with a fertility specialist to understand your options.

Fertility preservation is expensive. But don’t let sticker shock scare you away. Start by talking to your insurance provider to see if they cover any fertility procedures and get any coverage details in writing. Next, reach out to organizations that provide fertility preservation grants and financing options. Finally, ask your fertility clinic if they offer any discounted pricing for cancer patients or discounted packages. 

If your child has cancer, it’s important to think about their fertility even if it seems like something far in the future. Your kid’s fertility can be harmed by cancer itself or its treatment. But, there are fertility preservation options for your child that can give them choices in the future. 

Yes! Infertility affects men and women equally, so anyone going through cancer treatment should consider fertility preservation. In fact, 1 in 6 couples will struggle with infertility. ⅓ of that is a result of female infertility, ⅓ is a result of male infertility, and ⅓ is a result of a combination of female and male infertility factors. 

Family fertility history is often noted during a fertility or reproductive health consultation, but it is not indicative to your personal fertility.