Fertility preservation
Your choice – know your options
How chemotherapy reduces fertility?
Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be so overwhelming, that it can be all-too easy for a woman to lose sight of life beyond their upcoming battle. But the truth is, women who undergo chemotherapy can experience changes in their fertility that may impact their chances of getting pregnant after their cancer has been treated. For instance, some women may experience chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea (the absence of a menstrual period), premature menopause, or even infertility.
Tamoxifen and Pregnancy.
Tamoxifen is a popular chemotherapy drug used to treat all stages of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, but it shouldn’t be the drug of choice for all women. In particular, women who are pregnant, think they are pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant should avoid using Tamoxifen due to its ability to cross the placental barrier and its increased risk of causing fetotoxicity.
Fertility options.
While some women may be able to get pregnant naturally after their cancer treatment ends, others may find they are unable to have children after treatment. But regardless of the case, being diagnosed with breast cancer means that you will have to think about your fertility earlier than you might have originally planned if you wanted to have a child at some point in the future.
Fertility Stimulation and Preservation.
Whether you choose to have your embryos or eggs frozen, fertility stimulation is your first step in preserving your ability to get pregnant after chemotherapy. Your doctor will prescribe certain hormones to help stimulate egg production. A common option is an aromatase inhibitor called Letrozole. Letrozole is effective at increasing egg production, thus giving women more eggs to have removed and fertilized and/or frozen. It is now the drug of choice over Clomid because it produces fewer side effects and recent research suggests it may result in higher ovulation and pregnancy rates.
Costs of Fertility.
Understandably, cost is one of the biggest concerns about preserving one’s fertility, but it is even more of a concern when you are already preparing for chemotherapy treatment and adapting to the lifestyle changes breast cancer forces on you. The cost varies by city and state, so we have done our best to provide you with an average cost estimate, so you can plan accordingly.
My Personal Experience
I personally went through three rounds of IVF in my early thirties, so I have a deep understanding of the emotional rollercoaster that often comes with the fertility journey. I have such compassion and empathy for any woman facing the challenges involved with trying to have a family. I believe it is so important for a woman who is facing a breast cancer diagnosis to be empowered, and this begins by having a better understanding of all her fertility options, being prepared, and knowing more about the impact this can have on planning a family.
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Cynthia, Founder, Stage 2b
Allison DiPasquale, MD
Breast Surgical Oncologist
Texas Oncology
“I am beyond honored to join the rockstar team of medical advisors at LLL. In a world of readily available information on the internet this company is the absolute best that I have seen to get the correct, physician vetted information directly into your hands. Wherever you are on your journey, LLL can be the ultimate source of information to help you gain knowledge and support as well a