The shadow of cancer on fertility
If the treatment involves radiation therapy, the ovaries will be exposed to high-energy rays, which can damage them.
Cervical cancer can impact a woman’s chances of getting pregnant, because cancer treatments pose a risk to fertility. However, preserving fertility during cancer treatments is now a possibility, says Dr Indhumathi
Cancer of the cervix, mainly due to
Fertility and cervical cancer
Some methods of treating cervical cancer can reduce your chances of getting pregnant.
Also, if your treatment involves radiation therapy, your ovaries will be exposed to high-energy rays, which can damage them. “This will lead to
Preserving fertility
Before undergoing any treatment, the medical advice of the doctor / fertility specialist should be taken into account.
Conization
A conical biopsy is done at the very beginning of cancer when there is a small growth in the cervix. The doctor will remove the cone-shaped area of the cervix or the cancerous tissue. This treatment does not completely cause infertility, although there is a small risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight. The patient should wait a period of at least 8 to 12 months before planning a pregnancy to discuss the risk of miscarriage involved.
Radical trachelectomy
As part of this procedure, the doctor will remove the signs of small tumors in the early stages of cervical cancer by removing most of the cervix, the upper part of the vagina, and the lymph nodes. The doctor will prick the inner part of the cervix. Dr Dinakar says: “There is a good chance of conceiving after this procedure. Due to the permanent point in the cervix, the baby can only be delivered by cesarean section. Pregnancy will be at high risk given the risks of miscarriage and premature delivery, requiring the supervision of a gynecologist.
For chemotherapy and hysterectomy
If the doctor recommends radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a hysterectomy, the patient may consider freezing her eggs. One should consult a fertility expert to understand the risks and benefits of egg freezing. Note that radiation therapy and chemotherapy can damage the uterus and the ovaries, therefore, the patient will not be able to carry a child in the womb. With egg freezing, one can conceive of in vitro fertilization (IVF) or consider finding a surrogate mother. You should consider becoming pregnant a few months after the end of cancer treatment.
Coping with cervical cancer and infertility
Cancer in itself is a huge problem to be treated. It destroys and damages a person both physically and emotionally. “The infertility associated with cervical cancer can be emotionally draining for both partners. But research and studies have given women with cervical cancer the ability to choose other methods of conception. Before giving up hope, see your doctor and a fertility specialist, who can guide you through your treatment and your chances of conceiving, ”explains Dr Dinakar.
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