The number of patients diagnosed with cancer is increasing day by day. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy given in cancer treatment are toxic to the reproductive organs (testes and ovaries).
This damage to the reproductive organs varies according to the type, dose and age of the treatment. As a result, ovarian reserve and sperm count decrease after these treatments. The good news is that thanks to new technologies, there are now many methods to protect reproductive functions before cancer treatment.
A significant proportion of patients are diagnosed under the age of 45, even under the age of 30, and even before adolescence. Unlike in the past, early diagnosis and diagnosis is now possible in many cancers.
When patients are diagnosed with cancer, they first think about their health, but the stress and sadness of losing their reproductive functions becomes a separate problem they have to face. Because cancer treatment destroys most of the reproductive cells.
In this respect, it is very important for the physician who diagnoses cancer to refer the patient to an in vitro fertilisation specialist in order to give the patient back the chance to have a baby in the future. Because with some methods, reproductive functions of patients can be restored. These are
- Freezing and storage of eggs
- Freezing and storage of embryos created by in vitro fertilisation
In vitro fertilisation is started like IVF treatment and after the embryo formation, the embryos are frozen to be thawed in the future. This should be done quickly before cancer treatment.
In the case of cancers such as breast cancer, where a very high level of the hormone estrogen is undesirable, drugs that reduce the effect of the hormone (aromatase inhibitors) are added to IVF treatment.
- Sperm freezing and storage
Ovarian freezing Ovarian tissue freezing can be performed. This method is a promising treatment under development. It is an advantage that it does not delay the treatment in cancer patients. Before the treatment, the ovaries are removed and frozen, and after the treatment, they are returned to the patient and small eggs are allowed to develop in the patient's body. The remaining question mark is whether the cancer metastasis is in the ovaries.
- Methods such as surgical suspension of the ovaries before radiotherapy to the pelvic region.
Can there be anomalies or congenital malformations in pregnancies that occur after treatment?
These problems are not seen depending on the treatment.
Does chemotherapy damage the ovaries?
Chemotherapy damages the ovaries when it causes a decrease in the number of eggs and dysfunction.
Can cancer patients get pregnant?
Cancer patients can get pregnant, but should not get pregnant because the treatment process will harm the baby.
What is embryo freezing?
Embryo freezing is used in IVF treatment. This procedure can be used because the number and quality of sperm and eggs will decrease after the treatment of a cancer patient.
What is sperm freezing?
Sperm freezing can be performed by considering the future movement and number of sperm. The sperm sample is frozen in the laboratory.
Can the ovaries be frozen?
Ovaries can be frozen. People with cancer can freeze their ovaries before starting treatment to avoid the damage that the treatment will cause to the ovaries.
