Is fertility loss from cancer treatment permanent?
Not always. The National Cancer Institute says cancer treatments may affect fertility by harming the reproductive organs. They can also harm the endocrine glands that control fertility. These changes may be temporary or permanent. Sometimes fertility returns after treatment, and other times the change lasts.
Which one happens depends on several things: the treatment itself, the dose and length of treatment, your age, the type of cancer, and other personal factors. Some chemotherapy drugs carry a higher risk than others. Radiation to the reproductive organs or pelvis can have a lasting effect.
It is hard to predict for any one person. So NCI suggests asking your doctor after treatment about the chances that people who have your treatment are fertile afterward. If the changes are temporary, ask how long fertility might take to return.
Even when treatment lowers fertility, pregnancy can still be possible. That is why your team may advise using birth control for a time. Your care team is the best source on what your own treatment may mean for your fertility.
Want the full picture? Read our complete explanation: How Cancer Treatment Can Affect Fertility
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