A disease that, although it is no longer synonymous with death, does greatly affect the physical and psychological health of those who suffer from it. The exact causes for which it arises are still unknown, although there are different theories that have to do with technological devices, food, and genes, the reality is that the reasons for its appearance are still unknown.
When this disease appears, very rarely is talked about the relationship between cancer and infertility.We are generally concerned about the immediate effects and the risk that the patient puts himself in when possessing it, check first if it is a tumor that is not growing or spreading throughout the body, see if it will be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy or some other method.
It can be considered infertility after a year that the couple has tried to get pregnant or 6 months if they are over 35 years old. In the case of women fertility is related to the ability to become pregnant and maintain it successfully until delivery, for men, fertility is the ability they have to produce a baby.
Infertility and Cancer in men
First of all, it is necessary to consider the type of cancer that occurs in the patient, if it is a tumor near the genital area it can exert pressure or block the ducts so that the production and release of sperm is obstructed, on the other hand, some tumors have effects on glands that can also affect male fertility.
Surgeries to treat cancer of the prostate, testicle, bladder or other sexual organs to the male reproductive system could permanently damage the reproductive capacity, however, it is not the only factor by which radiation and radiation can be affected. chemotherapy can affect fertility.
Infertility and Cancer In women
If you have been detected cancer, you should not assume that your doctor will ask you questions about your goals or plans for the future, put it up for discussion, and listen to the options you have for women who undergo surgery or cancer treatment. Surgeries on the cervix, ovary, or near the area can permanently affect fertilityas can drugs used in chemotherapy and radiation.
In the case of radiation as a method of cancer treatment, you should know that it can affect the development of your baby and there is a probability that they will be born with a malformation if the pregnancy is carried during radiotherapy or shortly after receiving it.
Fertility Preservation
The most viable option that exists for female or male cases is the preservation of gametes through cryopreservation techniquesThis option consists in the case of men taking a semen sample to protect it and freeze it. In the case of women, the procedure is longer since they must undergo ovarian stimulation so that the ovaries produce mature eggs that will be extracted in order to be preserved to be used at the future time that is decided.
The cryopreservation techniques is a much more advanced technique than simple freezing, the difference is that it is done at a very fast speed and substances that protect the gamete are used, so the percentage of damage is minimal. If this fertility preservation technique is used, the pregnancy must necessarily be carried out by means of an assisted reproduction treatment, in the case of men it can only be intrauterine insemination and for women an in vitro fertilization treatment. At PROCREA we have all these services, if you have any questions, schedule an appointment and resolve all your concerns with one of our professionals.
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