This aspect is
however very important and could help people going through cancer treatment
pull through when all appear bleak, i.e. the knowledge that they still stand a
chance of conceiving after all the ordeal could provide the hope needed when it
all seems hopeless.
Cancer
treatments can impair fertility in a number of ways, this is a fact. Some
chemotherapy medications destroy eggs and this may lead to infertility after
treatment; however, the risk of infertility depends on the medications used,
the doses given, and the age of the woman at the time of treatment. An older
woman has fewer eggs when starting treatment. This means she is more likely to
become infertile after treatment.
Unfortunately,
women of reproductive age are regularly diagnosed with cancer. The common types
of cancer in young women include breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian
cancer, uterine cancer, colorectal cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is not unexpected that one of the concerns
of women who have undergone treatment for cancer is their chances of having a
baby afterwards. Such young women that have cancer often require treatment that
can compromise their future fertility. For instance, chemotherapy is toxic to
the ovaries and can result in loss of follicle reserve and premature ovarian
failure. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments also trigger early menopause.
As a woman,
there are several ways that having ovarian cancer can affect your ability to
have children in the future. Cancerous tumours can damage your ovaries and your
ability to produce eggs. You may also need to have one or both ovaries removed.
You would
probably ask if breast cancer impacts negatively on fertility. Some treatments
for breast cancer may affect fertility, particularly from chemotherapy that
might damage the ovaries, which can sometimes cause immediate or delayed
infertility. Still, many women are able to become pregnant after treatment.
The point is
that once you are diagnosed with any form of cancer, it is a valid concern that
problems arising from the cancer or cancer treatment could cause damage to your
reproductive organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix.
Your hormone production could also be affected. While cancer can be
successfully treated if detected early, certain treatment approaches have known
or possible fertility-related side effects. Chemotherapy may affect fertility;
radiation therapy also affects fertility if areas like the abdomen, pelvis,
lower spine, ovaries and the uterus are exposed. Surgical removal of these
reproductive organs may affect fertility.
There are
instances in which cancer treatments stop menstrual periods. This is called
premature menopause and it could cause permanent infertility. Chemotherapy has
been known to cause menstrual periods to stop temporarily.
If you are
having periods during or after chemotherapy, there is still a possibility that
you have lowered fertility. Menstruating during cancer treatment is not a guarantee
of fertility as you could have developed lowered fertility or early-onset
menopause.
The ovaries
store a woman’s eggs so damage to these organs can decrease the ovarian reserve
which is the total number of immature eggs in the ovaries. Women are born with
all the eggs they will have and once these eggs are lost, they cannot be
replaced. The loss of healthy eggs usually causes infertility and early
menopause.
For a diagnosis
of cervical cancer or any type of cancer for that matter, the best thing to do
is to consult a reproductive endocrinologist that specialises in the conditions
affecting fertility, including cancer-related fertility issues.
If you are a
younger woman (aged below 30), you have a larger ovarian reserve and you are
less likely to experience immediate menopause and infertility after
chemotherapy. However, this does not mean if you are younger you are not likely
to lose your fertility.
Pregnancy after
cancer treatment is dependent on specific factors. Normally, to become pregnant
without reproductive assistance, you need at least one healthy ovary with
enough remaining eggs, one healthy fallopian tube, a healthy uterus and an
ideal level of specific hormones.
While on
treatment, you may require some waiting time before trying to become pregnant,
however, the amount of time depends on the type and stage of cancer, the
treatment and your age. If you are taking hormonal treatment, it is often
advisable that you delay pregnancy.
The issue here
is that delay is likely to further reduce fertility because eggs are lost
through ageing. If you are experiencing delay, fertility-preserving options are
worthwhile.
Part of the
recommendations for preserving fertility is an assessment of their risk of
infertility and fertility preservation options. The earlier this is done, the
better, preferably before cancer treatment begins.
The rapid
development of Assisted Reproductive Technology over recent years has brought a
wide range of fertility preservation options to young (and old) women diagnosed
with cancer. The benefits of investigational ART for fertility preservation are
widely recognised.
Two of the most
successful methods of fertility preservation are egg freezing and embryo
freezing and some types of surgery can be fertility sparing.
There are
instances in which the cervix can be removed (in the case of cervical cancer),
while the uterus is left intact. This allows a woman to deliver a baby by
C-section. It’s an option for some women with early-stage cervical cancer.
One other option
for you, if you are a woman with early-stage ovarian cancer, is the removal of
the affected ovary. This preserves the healthy ovary for reproduction and
prevents early menopause.
Fertility
preservation can also be done with ovarian tissue preservation. This involves
surgical removal and freezing of ovarian tissue. Then, it is transplanted after
cancer treatment. If you are worried about the risk of infertility from the
recommended treatments, you would benefit from counselling for
fertility-related decisions.
After cancer
treatment, your body may recover naturally and produce mature eggs that can be
fertilised. But you may be required to wait for six months or more before
trying to get pregnant. Waiting may reduce the risk of birth defects from eggs
damaged by chemotherapy or other treatments. The long waiting period is
generally based on the fact that the risk of the cancer coming back is usually
highest in the first couple of years after treatment. The length of time
depends on the type of cancer and the treatment used.
(Punch)
Do you want to be a non-oil products
exporter? You have to master the contemporary dynamics of non-oil export trade
and avoid getting defrauded by the foreign buyers of your exportable products?
Click on the link below: http://www.tectono-business.com/2016/02/contemporary-step-by-step-guide-to.html
Bring your
dented vehicles to GOF Autos Ltd for priming, panel beating, painting
(with Sikkens paint) and oven baking at rate of N70,000 for cars and
N80,000 for SUVs. For details, click: http://www.tectono-business.com/2017/06/gof-autos-limited-best-automobile.html
Be a Landlord in Lagos by acquiring plots and
hectares of land @ Royalty Homes Estates in Lekki, Agbara, Ikorodu and Mowe. Do
not wait to buy. Rather, buy and wait. For details, click: http://www.tectono-business.com/2019/06/be-landlord-in-lagos-by-acquiring-plots.html
Are you aware that with just N12,500
initial deposit, your children are not too young to own landed properties in
Lagos? For more information, click: http://www.tectono-business.com/2018/09/with-just-n12500-your-children-are-not.html
No comments:
Post a Comment