Fertility sparing procedures specific to certain cancers

If you have been diagnosed with cervical cancer, or are being treated with radiotherapy to the pelvis, there may be certain fertility preservation treatments suitable for you. The cancer care team talk with young women about having these procedures as part of their cancer treatment to help preserve your fertility.

Trachelectomy

Trachelectomy is a surgical procedure that removes cancer in the cervix. The cervix, upper part of the vagina and lymph glands (in the pelvis) are removed but the womb is left in place.

If you have been diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer this may be an option for you. Side effects can include bleeding, infection and blood clots in the veins (thrombosis). In surgery, your bowel or bladder could get cut which may result in bladder problems and problems with menstruation. This surgery is a day surgery and does not cause any delay to cancer treatment.

A trachelectomy gives a young woman with early cancer of the cervix the chance of having a baby after cancer treatment. If a young woman becomes pregnant after the surgery, she will have a chance of miscarriage and premature birth. The baby will need to be delivered by Caesarean section (C-section). Research shows that having a trachelectomy does not affect the chance that the cancer will return.

Ovarian transposition

Ovarian transposition is a surgical procedure that moves the ovaries away from the field of radiotherapy treatment. This may be suitable for you if you are receiving radiotherapy to the pelvis.

The side effects can include injury to internal organs. This surgery is a day surgery and it does not delay any cancer treatment. It is not clear whether ovarian transposition will help increase the chance of a young woman subsequently having a baby. Research shows that ovarian transposition does not affect the chance that the cancer will return. It does not protect the ovaries against the effects of chemotherapy.

Ovarian shielding

Ovarian shielding protects the ovaries during radiotherapy. This may be suitable for you if you are receiving radiotherapy to the pelvis. During radiotherapy, a protective cover will be placed on the outside of your body, over the area where your ovaries are.

You will be able to go home straight after your radiation treatment. Ovarian shielding does not delay cancer treatment. The data suggests that ovarian shielding only has a small protective effect during radiotherapy.

The chances of having a child after cancer treatment is unknown. It is not known yet whether ovarian shielding affects the chance of cancer growing or returning. It does not protect the ovaries against the effects of chemotherapy.