{"id":52867,"date":"2019-10-07T18:39:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T16:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/?p=52867"},"modified":"2022-04-12T17:37:40","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T15:37:40","slug":"fertility-pregnancy-after-breast-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/fertility-pregnancy-after-breast-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Any woman diagnosed with breast cancer is bound to be filled with worries about the impact of the disease on her life and her future. This is understandable and inevitable. Breast cancer is more common in post-menopausal women but far from rare in younger women and for them, the impact on fertility and any subsequent pregnancy could be a concern. Fears for the future can be intensified by some of the stories that circulate about infertility, how long you need to wait after treatment, or even the chances of passing on your illness to your child.<\/p>\n<p>In this article, we address some of those stories, fears and worries. We untangle the mistaken beliefs from the actual risks by examining them one by one, taking a cool look at <strong>pregnancy after breast cancer myths and facts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/fertility-pregnancy-after-breast-cancer\/#Myth_Breast_cancer_treatment_results_in_infertility\" title=\"Myth: Breast cancer treatment results in infertility\">Myth: Breast cancer treatment results in infertility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/fertility-pregnancy-after-breast-cancer\/#Myth_You_must_not_get_pregnant_for_five_years_after_treatment\" title=\"Myth: You must not get pregnant for five years after treatment\">Myth: You must not get pregnant for five years after treatment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/fertility-pregnancy-after-breast-cancer\/#Myth_Your_child_is_more_likely_to_suffer_from_the_same_illness\" title=\"Myth: Your child is more likely to suffer from the same illness\">Myth: Your child is more likely to suffer from the same illness<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/fertility-pregnancy-after-breast-cancer\/#Myth_You_cant_breastfeed_after_breast_cancer_treatment\" title=\"Myth: You can\u2019t breastfeed after breast cancer treatment\">Myth: You can\u2019t breastfeed after breast cancer treatment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/fertility-pregnancy-after-breast-cancer\/#Myth_If_treatment_is_urgent_theres_no_time_to_preserve_fertility\" title=\"Myth: If treatment is urgent, there\u2019s no time to preserve fertility\">Myth: If treatment is urgent, there\u2019s no time to preserve fertility<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/fertility-pregnancy-after-breast-cancer\/#Freezing_of_the_ovarian_cortex\" title=\"Freezing of the ovarian cortex\">Freezing of the ovarian cortex<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Myth_Breast_cancer_treatment_results_in_infertility\"><\/span>Myth: Breast cancer treatment results in infertility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The truth is that some treatments for some cancers can result in reduced fertility or even complete infertility. But the outcome depends on the type and severity of the cancer, the type of treatment and the age of the patient Different regimes of chemotherapy can have different effects of the ovary: while some will have little or no effect, others will cause early menopause by damaging the follicles (which contain the eggs) and also the surrounding tissue. Moreover, chemotherapy, while not necessarily having a direct impact on future pregnancy, brings some dangers. It can weaken the heart, making pregnancy more difficult for the mother, and it can cause an early menopause with the cessation of ovulation.<\/p>\n<p>Other treatments such as hormone therapy, can cause irregular periods or even complete cessation of ovulation. Fortunately, for many women periods start again afterwards and they remain fertile.<\/p>\n<p>Whichever treatment is recommended; it is vital that you talk to your medical advisers about your chances of <strong>pregnancy after treatment for breast cancer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Myth_You_must_not_get_pregnant_for_five_years_after_treatment\"><\/span>Myth: You must not get pregnant for five years after treatment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This too depends on the type of treatment and the decision always need to be individualized. After a course of chemotherapy, some medical advisers recommend a delay of six months before trying for pregnancy while others might recommend a delay of two to five years, as recurrence is likely higher during this time and if a further treatment was needed, being pregnant would be a problem.<\/p>\n<p>Hormone therapy tends to be more long term and could last between five and ten years. Of course, for many people this would represent a major obstacle, since the age of natural menopause could be approaching after such a delay. However, it can be possible to take a break from hormone therapy for the duration of the pregnancy and then resume after the birth. Naturally, this is an area for individual specialist advice.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Myth_Your_child_is_more_likely_to_suffer_from_the_same_illness\"><\/span>Myth: Your child is more likely to suffer from the same illness<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Most breast cancers are not hereditary but are the result of mutations which occur during a person\u2019s lifetime, rather than from genetic factors. There is no evidence from research that the offspring of breast cancer survivors have any increased chance of birth defects or long-term health issues. There are some less frequent cases where a cancer can be passed on genetically to children and so clearly you would need to seek advice from a genetic specialist about whether or not this is a risk in your circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Myth_You_cant_breastfeed_after_breast_cancer_treatment\"><\/span>Myth: You can\u2019t breastfeed after breast cancer treatment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The fact is that many women who have become <strong>pregnant after treatment for breast cancer<\/strong> are able to breastfeed normally. For some people there could be issues following surgery or radiotherapy, and it is possible that structural changes in the breast tissue could cause a reduction in milk production or difficulties for the baby to latch on to the breast. The only clear-cut instance of not being able to breastfeed would apply to women who need to resume hormone therapy after the birth.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Myth_If_treatment_is_urgent_theres_no_time_to_preserve_fertility\"><\/span>Myth: If treatment is urgent, there\u2019s no time to preserve fertility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This is fast becoming one of the most outdated myths around <strong>breast cancer and pregnancy after<\/strong> treatment. It is true that the most straightforward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/assisted-reproduction-treatments\/fertility-preservation\/\">procedure to preserve fertility<\/a> in advance of treatment starting is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/assisted-reproduction-treatments\/vitrification-of-oocytes\/\">vitrification of oocytes<\/a> and this involves ovarian stimulation over a period of several weeks. However, fertility specialists recognise that there is not always time to follow the normal IVF process, and other options are available. These include<strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Random or luteal phase stimulation <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Some studies show that, while usual protocols for ovarian stimulation have to be started by the beginning of the cycle, it is possible to undergo a stimulation treatment with positive outcomes starting the stimulation at any time of the cycle. Likewise, dual stimulation protocols also allow women to undergo two rounds of IVF within one cycle, accumulating or freezing a higher number of eggs in less time. Last but not least, there are specific protocols where the use of specific adjuvant medications helps to reduce the hormone levels in the body to minimize the risk or impact of these hormones.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Freezing_of_the_ovarian_cortex\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Freezing of the ovarian cortex<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This is a comparatively new technique which has been used successfully around the world. This method might be considered to help restoring the ovarian function so that natural conception or a normal IVF procedure can take place at a later time. It is particularly helpful for cancer patients who need to start a course of radiotherapy or <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chemotherapy\">chemotherapy<\/a> immediately.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In vitro maturation of oocytes (IVM)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>IVM is another technique that can be considered when there is insufficient time available for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/assisted-reproduction-treatments\/in-vitro-fertilisation\/\">normal IVF process<\/a>. With this method, immature oocytes are retrieved from ovarian follicles. These are cultivated to a stage of maturity in the laboratory and can then be preserved for later use.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Any woman diagnosed with breast cancer is bound to be filled with worries about the impact of the disease on her life and her future. This is understandable and inevitable. Breast cancer is more common in post-menopausal women but far from rare in younger women and for them, the impact on fertility and any subsequent pregnancy could be a concern. Fears for the future can be intensified by some of the stories that circulate about infertility, how long you need to wait after treatment, or even the chances of passing on your illness to your child. ","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33079,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,18],"tags":[265,266,267],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment - IVI UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Any woman diagnosed with breast cancer is bound to be filled with worries about the impact of the disease on her life and her future.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/fertility-pregnancy-after-breast-cancer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment - 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