Why does chemotherapy treatment threaten fertility?
From birth, the ovary contains all of the eggs that a woman will ever make. In order to ovulate and be fertilized, these eggs undergo a process of maturation. Because chemotherapy targets dividing cells, the medications may attack these dividing eggs’ cells. Reducing the number of eggs that you have may make it harder for you to become pregnant. It may also cause early menopause. The likelihood that this will happen depends on your age, the type of chemotherapy that you will be receiving, the amount of time you will be treated, and your medical history. The Fertility Preservation Team will carefully review your history and treatment plan with you and discuss the chances that your treatment will cause infertility or menopause. Why does radiation threaten fertility? Like chemotherapy, radiation treatment destroys dividing cells. Therefore, if your ovaries are in the field that your oncologist is targeting, the eggs in your ovaries can be damaged by the radiation therapy. What options are
