The effect on fertility of treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

If you are concerned about whether you will be able to have children after your treatment, it is important to discuss this with your doctor before your treatment starts. Some of the drugs used to treat CLL can cause temporary or permanent infertility. If you have high-dose chemotherapy or radiotherapy before a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, you are likely to be permanently infertile. Men may be able to have sperm stored before they start treatment.

Women who have any possibility of becoming pregnant should use contraception throughout the treatment period and for six months afterwards. This is because chemotherapy could cause harm to a baby conceived during this time.

As your doctor knows the exact type of treatment you are having, he or she is the best person to answer your questions.