Of the almost 800,000 female cancers diagnosed each year in Spain, 4% are diagnosed in women under 35 years of age. On the other hand, there has been a growing trend in recent years to delay the decision to have children.
Thus, a cancer diagnosis can occur before the woman (or man) has completed (or even started) her reproductive project.
The relationship between diagnosis and fertility preservation
Fortunately, in many cases, the vital prognosis after a cancer diagnosis is favorable. However, some proposed treatments may present among their side effects a greater or lesser degree of infertility.
The frequency with which an oncological treatment absolutely or relatively compromises a woman’s future fertility depends on several factors: the dose and type of treatment, the patient’s age and the extent of the area to be treated.
The importance of preserving fertility
In any case, oncologists must, based on the prognosis of the cancer to be treated, inform the patient of the possible side effects of the treatment, which may include absolute or relative infertility. As a consequence, communication should be established with specialists in Assisted Reproduction who can provide information on the different preservation options available.
Ultimately, the different fertility preservation options should be an integral part of improving the quality of life of cancer survivors.