Basic information for topics, such as “What is it?” and “How many people are affected?” is available in the Condition Information section. In addition, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that are specific to a certain topic are answered in this section.
Does cancer treatment affect fertility?
Cancer treatments can affect fertility in both men and women. For example, chemotherapy can affect a woman's fertility by damaging her eggs or affect a man's fertility by damaging his sperm. Some radiation treatments and some surgeries can also damage eggs, sperm, or reproductive organs. Methods exist for preserving fertility before cancer treatment. Whether fertility preservation is an option for a given patient depends on the type of cancer and whether treatment has to be started right away. You should talk to your health care provider about your options.1 To learn more about fertility preservation, visit the section called What is fertility preservation?
- American Cancer Society. (2011). Fertility and cancer. Retrieved June 26, 2012, from http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/PhysicalSideEffects/FertilityandCancerWhatAreMyOptions/index [top]