Family planning decisions after cancer treatment
You may find that making decisions about pregnancy after your cancer diagnosis is difficult. Your decisions about fertility management will be made on what best suits your life. These include having tests to check fertility, choosing a contraceptive method and planning your future family.
It is difficult to predict how your fertility will be affected by cancer treatment. The fertility care team can check your fertility through tests including blood tests to check your hormone levels or an ultrasound scan of your ovaries. You can ask your GP or cancer care team to refer you to a fertility clinic for this support.
Your fertility may return naturally after cancer treatment. Even if your periods have not started again, you may still be producing eggs and could become pregnant. Your GP or cancer care team can advise you on the options and the best type of contraception for you. You may choose not to have any children but if you do want a family it is advised that you wait for two years after completing your cancer treatment before trying for a baby.
Data does not suggest that pregnancy affects the chances of a cancer coming back. Data does not suggest that the health of children born after cancer treatment is affected. You can talk with your cancer care team if you are thinking about getting pregnant.
Not all young women who have cancer treatment will have a fertility problem, in fact most young women who want to have a baby after cancer treatment are able to..
Occasionally a young woman may find herself unable to have children which can be upsetting and difficult to come to terms with. Support and help is offered by your fertility care team. They can offer emotional support and information on other options. These include surrogacy, adoption and fostering. They can also advise on methods of assisted pregnancies such as donor eggs and embryos or using your own saved eggs, embryos and ovarian tissue.
The HEFA website (www.hfea.gov.uk) has more information about egg or embryo donation and surrogacy. The organisations listed here include information and support for people interested in fostering and adoption.
Here are some questions which may help you talk with your cancer care team or GP about having a baby after cancer treatment:
- How will I know if I am fertile after cancer treatment?
- How long before I know if I am fertile?
- Are there any tests that I can take to check if I am still fertile after cancer treatment?
- If I became pregnant would the cancer come back?
- If I can still have a baby, how long after treatment should I wait?
- If I become pregnant after cancer treatment, will my child have a higher chance of getting cancer?
- If I didn’t have fertility preservation before cancer treatment, do I still have options?
