Late Effect (1st of 1)
Ovarian dysfunction (amenorrhea [no periods], early menopause, infertility)
Your risk is greater if:
- You were at an older age during radiation.
- You had a high treatment dose, especially equal to or over 10-20 Gy.
- You had whole abdominal irradiation.
- You were also treated with alkylating agents (e.g., busulfan, cyclophosphamide).
Recommended Evaluation
- Physical exam and menstrual history yearly
- Special hormone studies on your blood at the end of treatment and as indicated (e.g., lack of pubertal changes, irregular menses, symptoms of menopause)
Management
- You may benefit from hormone replacement therapy; discuss this with your doctor.
- Your doctor may recommend a bone mineral density to see if you have osteopenia or osteoporosis.
- You may want to see a reproductive endocrinologist (fertility specialist) for infertility.
