Understanding chemotherapy - Macmillan Cancer

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Effects on sex life and fertilityEffects on fertilityUnfortunately, some chemotherapy drugs can cause infertility(inability to become pregnant or to father a child).It’s important to discuss your infertility risk with your cancerdoctor before you start chemotherapy. If you have a partner,it’s a good idea to include them in this discussion.Although chemotherapy can affect fertility, it’s still possiblefor a woman to get pregnant or for a man to get his partnerpregnant during chemotherapy. It’s important to avoidpregnancy when you’re having chemotherapy as the drugscould harm a developing baby (see pages 75–76).WomenSome, but not all, chemotherapy drugs may temporarilyor permanently stop your ovaries producing eggs.Chemotherapy may cause your periods to become irregular orstop for a while (temporary infertility). But after treatment stops,the ovaries can start producing eggs again and your periodswill return to normal. It may take a few months or up to twoyears for your periods to come back. The younger you are,the more likely you are to have periods again and still befertile after chemotherapy.If your periods don’t come back you won’t be able to becomepregnant and will have your menopause (see pages 71–72).It’s important to know if your fertility is likely to be affectedbefore chemotherapy starts. You can then decide if you want73
Understanding chemotherapyto be referred to a fertility specialist. They can discuss possibleoptions to help preserve your fertility, such as storing embryos(fertilised eggs) or eggs, with you.We have a leaflet Cancer treatment and fertility –information for women, which has more information.MenSome chemotherapy drugs have no effect on fertility, but otherscan slow down or stop you producing sperm. For most men thiswill be temporary. Any problems with sperm production won’tstop you from getting an erection or enjoying sex.Even if your chances of becoming infertile are low, you maystill be advised to store sperm for use in the future. This hasto be done before you start chemotherapy. Teenage boys atrisk of infertility should also, if possible, have their spermstored for later years.You’ll usually be asked to produce several sperm samplesover one or two weeks. These will be frozen and stored sothey can be used later to try to fertilise an egg and makeyour partner pregnant.It can take a few years for your sperm count to go backto normal after chemotherapy. Unfortunately in some meninfertility is permanent. Your doctor can check your spermcount after treatment is over.There’s more detailed information in our leafletCancer treatment and fertility – information for men.74
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