Ovarian suppression
Ovarian Suppression tries to protect the ovaries during cancer treatment. It is a hormone treatment that uses hormone injections to temporarily ‘turn off’ the oestrogen that is made by the ovary. Ovarian suppression can be used before or during chemotherapy. It is not clear whether this option increases the chance of being able to have a baby after finishing cancer treatment.
Who is it for?
Young women who want to preserve their fertility, have gone through puberty and are having chemotherapy.
What does it involve?
You will need monthly injections that stop the hormones that stimulate your ovaries. You may be offered Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue treatment which may help to preserve your fertility.
What is the chance of having a baby after ovarian suppression?
The chance of having a baby in the future depends on how your ovaries have been affected by your cancer treatment.
There is only evidence that ovarian suppression can protect your ovaries against the effects of chemotherapy for young women with breast cancer. It may not be effective for young women with other cancers. It may be less effective than other freezing techniques, so if your future fertility is important to you, where possible, you should not choose ovarian suppression over other freezing techniques.
Will this option affect the health of the baby?
No, the data suggests that the health of a baby born using ovarian suppression will not be affected. Are there any side effects of the treatment used in ovarian suppression?
This option shuts down the ovaries for a short time. This can cause side effects that are commonly seen in menopause such as hot flushes, mood changes and vaginal dryness.
These symptoms are temporary because ovarian suppression does not lead to permanent menopause.
Will this option delay the start of my cancer treatment?
Hormone injections are mostly given every month and will start about 2 weeks before cancer treatment starts. Once cancer treatment starts, the injections are then given every month for as long as a young woman is having chemotherapy.
Will this option affect my chances of the cancer coming back?
Research has found that ovarian suppression does not affect the chance of the cancer returning.
