Sterility

What is sterility?

Sterility is when a person is unable to get pregnant or get someone pregnant. Cancer and cancer treatment may cause sterility. Sterility can be:

• A side effect of surgery or radiation therapy that affects reproductive organs or organs that make hormones.
• Caused by chemotherapy or hormonal therapy.

Sterility can be temporary (lasts a short period of time) or permanent (does not go away). The risk of sterility depends on things like your age, the medications you got (dose and how long), and if you had radiation or surgery. If you have ovaries, your risk of sterility can also depend on your ovarian health before starting treatment.

If you might want to have a child in the future,  talk with a fertility specialist to learn how to manage reproductive issues before starting treatment. A fertility specialist can help you come up with a plan. Your plan may include:

• Removing and storing eggs or embryos or sperm banking.
• Removing and storing ovarian or testicular tissue that can be put back into the body after treatment is done.
• Moving the ovaries to another part of the belly.
• Shielding (protecting) the ovaries or testicles from radiation treatment.

How is sterility managed?

Talk to your providers before starting treatment. Most providers suggest you wait for one to two years after treatment has ended before getting pregnant or getting someone pregnant. This allows your body and eggs or sperm to start to recover from cancer treatment. A fertility specialist can talk with you about your options before treatment starts or check your fertility health after treatment.

When should I contact my provider?

Talk with your provider about your concerns and if you wish to have children. Talking about options before starting treatment offers the best chance of future fertility.