Collaborative Specialties
Oncofertility
What is Oncofertility?
Oncofertility is a specialized field of medicine that combines oncology, the study and treatment of cancer, and fertility. The goal of oncofertility is to address and mitigate the potential adverse effects of cancer treatments on an individual’s reproductive health. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery can often have negative effects on fertility by damaging reproductive organs and cells.
In oncofertility, healthcare professionals, including oncologists and reproductive specialists, collaborate to provide individuals diagnosed with cancer with options to preserve their fertility. This may involve interventions such as cryopreservation, which is the freezing of sperm, eggs, or embryos before undergoing cancer treatment. By preserving reproductive cells before treatment, oncofertility aims to offer individuals the possibility of starting or growing their families in the future, even after undergoing potentially fertility-compromising cancer treatments.
Cancer and Reproductive Health
Does cancer treatment affect fertility?
The protocol for cancer treatment may involve radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery which could evidently affect your chances of conception in the future. Safeguarding against permanent damage to the reproductive system is a high priority for our oncofertility specialists. We work together to mitigate and minimize the treatment effects by working closely with our patients to identify diagnostic variables that may lead to long-term damage to their reproductive systems. Our experts provide consultations on the options that are available before cancer treatment or in parallel with the cancer treatment plan to help every patient through this difficult process.
How Cancer Treatments Can Affect Fertility
The impact cancer has on fertility varies depending on the type of cancer, the treatment approach, and the individual’s age and overall health. It’s important for individuals facing a cancer diagnosis and treatment to be aware of the potential effects and consider fertility preservation options if family planning is a concern.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to target and eliminate rapidly dividing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these drugs may also affect some healthy cells, including the cells responsible for reproductive function. The impact on fertility depends on the specific drugs used and their dosage. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause temporary or permanent damage to the ovaries in women, affecting the number of healthy eggs. It can also reduce sperm production in men.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy utilizes high doses of radiation to target and destroy cancer cells. Radiation directed near the abdomen and pelvis can harm nearby reproductive organs. For women, it may damage the ovaries, leading to a decline in egg production or premature menopause. Additionally, radiation therapy near the brain can also harm the pituitary gland disrupting its ability to signal the ovaries to make the estrogen needed to ovulate. In men, radiation near the testicular area kills the stem cells that produce sperm and leads to infertility.
Surgery
Surgery is used to treat cancers in the reproductive and pelvic regions, but it can adversely affect fertility by harming nearby reproductive tissues and causing scarring. The impact on fertility depends on factors like tumor size and its location. For women, procedures like hysterectomy or oophorectomy result in infertility, while in men, surgeries such as the removal of the prostate or testicles can affect fertility and sexual function. The tumor location, whether near reproductive or abdominal organs, may necessitate surgery and potentially impact fertility, including cases involving the nervous system, like the brain or spinal cord.
Hormone Therapy
Certain hormone therapies for prostate or other cancers can lower sperm production and affect fertility. It can cause sexual side effects, like a reduced sex drive and erection problems, which are common during treatment but often improve after discontinuation. Similarly, hormone therapies for breast and other cancers may impact fertility. While certain drugs like tamoxifen may not hinder pregnancy but pose a risk of birth defects, other drugs can cause early menopause. The duration and type of treatment determine if the effects are permanent.
Can you get pregnant with cancer?
Whether you can conceive during cancer treatment depends on factors like the type of cancer, its stage, treatment plan, and your overall health. Though being diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy is rare, it’s a possibility. Additionally, getting pregnant while undergoing cancer treatment is also possible. Naturally, this may raise concerns about how the cancer treatments could influence your ongoing pregnancy and potential impacts on your baby’s well-being, as well as considerations for your fertility in the future. It is important to speak with a physician about your care plan to make informed decisions.
Oncofertility Preservation
Cryopreservation for Women
Women who want to conceive may encounter challenges as cancer treatments unfold, potentially impacting their ability to produce viable oocytes (eggs), a crucial element in the reproductive process. Cancer treatments can also induce conditions resembling pre-menopause, damage ovarian tissue, and negatively affect the overall reproductive system.
In some cases, female patients may proactively opt to freeze their eggs prior to their cancer treatments beginning. The egg-freezing process involves preserving a woman’s eggs at a specific time, ensuring they remain uncompromised by the effects of cancer treatments. These frozen eggs can be fertilized into embryos when the individual is ready to pursue infertility treatments, offering possibilities for building a family in the future.
Cryopreservation for Men
When men undergo cancer treatments, there can be potential damage to the testes which can negatively impact the production of crucial elements to reproduction like sperm and testosterone. With the production of sperm and testosterone impacted, it would ultimately affect the ability to fertilize the female egg.
Male patients have the option to take a proactive approach and preserve their fertility through options such as cryopreservation, freezing their sperm for future use. Cryopreservation would ensure that there will be viable sperm that can be used for infertility treatments in the future.
Supportive Care Throughout the Journey
At RFC, we understand the emotional and physical challenges that cancer patients face. Our commitment goes beyond preserving fertility – we provide comprehensive supportive care throughout the entire journey.
Our team works closely with a network of oncologists to create a seamless integration of oncofertility into cancer treatment plans, capturing the appropriate timing for fertility preservation. By combining the expertise of both reproductive endocrinologists and oncologists, we strive to offer the best possible care that addresses both the medical and emotional aspects of the patient experience.