Effects of cancer treatment on fertility

Last reviewed: September 2003

For general information about CancerBACUP’s Controversial topics please see the introductory page.

Many different cancer-related factors may have an effect on an individual’s fertility. These can include:

• the cancer itself
• the treatment (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy)
• the age at which treatment is given (in women, fertility naturally decreases with age)
• the gender of the person receiving treatment

Much uncertainty surrounds the different factors affecting fertility, and it may not be possible to predict accurately how a particular individual may be affected.

As cancer treatments achieve better success and longer survival, so the long-term effects of both illness and treatment take on a greater significance for patients, families and friends. One of these potential effects relates to fertility. This can be significant both for younger people and for children.

For patients who have survived cancer, being infertile can have a negative effect on their quality of life in the long-term. For children, fertility is the issue most frequently raised by patients and by families of younger children.

The relative risk of infertility depends on the radiotherapy and cytotoxic chemotherapy received by the child during his or her cancer treatment.

As people seek more information about their disease and its treatment, it is important that they are given the best information possible to help them prepare and cope with potential side effects. The area of fertility is one that should be discussed prior to the start of treatment, so that steps can be taken, if possible and if appropriate, to improve the patient’s chances of becoming a parent in the future.

Often, people’s expectations concerning the effects of treatment on their fertility may be considerably worse than the reality.

The situation will depend on a person’s individual circumstances, the type of cancer they have and the treatment given. Their questions may include:

• Will my treatment have an effect on fertility?
• Will this be a permanent effect?
• How and when will I know what the effect will be?
• For my child having treatment, what effect will there be?
• How soon after my treatment can I/we start a family?
• What will be the effect of treatment on any future pregnancy?

Many of the questions asked by cancer patients regarding fertility are covered in the Cancer Q&As section of this website. Including the words ‘fertility’ and ‘pregnancy’ in the keywords when searching will help locate them.

The following information refers to the effects of chemotherapy on fertility. Further information will be added in due course regarding the effects of the cancer itself, surgery and hormonal therapy on fertility.