Introduction
A diagnosis of infertility for anyone can be very difficult. Research is ongoing however, and new treatments may become available. If you are interested in learning more about new options in this area, two web-based resources might prove useful: www.fertilehope.org and www.resolve.org. When you are ready for serious discussions about your options, ask your doctor for a referral to reproductive endocrinologist who is knowledgeable about cancer treatment-related infertility. Another option for many is adoption.
In terms of the health of any future offspring, the information to date does not indicate any increased risk of problems or malformations in the offspring of cancer survivors compared to the incidence in the general population.
Female
In vitro fertilization with a donor egg is a possibility for some. In this procedure, a donor egg—one provided by someone else—is fertilized in a laboratory with the sperm of the cancer survivor's spouse. The fertilized egg is then returned to the woman's uterus. This form of pregnancy is successful about 20% of the time and can result in multiple births.
Studies have shown that cancer survivors who become pregnant are not more likely to have problems with the pregnancy than others; however, certain treatments may increase some risks. If you were treated with an anthracycline drug, you may have a risk of having heart problems during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. If you have received radiation therapy to the pelvis, you are at increased risk of having a miscarriage or early delivery. Talk to your doctor about these issues.
Males
Retrieving sperm directly from the testicles may be possible for males who do not have mature sperm in their semen. In this process, testicular tissue is obtained with a biopsy and is examined for the presence of sperm. Any sperm cells can be removed and frozen for future use during in vitro fertilization.
