CANCER AND FERTILITY: PRESERVATION BEFORE TREATMENT

19 June 20252′ read4 sections

CONTENTS

HOW DO TREATMENTS AFFECT FERTILITY?
WHAT OPTIONS ARE THERE?
WHEN SHOULD YOU MAKE DECISIONS?
TIPS BEFORE YOU START TREATMENT:

A cancer diagnosis brings many thoughts and worries. Among the hardest, for those who want to have children, is the question: "What does this mean for my fertility?" The truth is that treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and some surgical procedures can affect reproductive capacity — in both women and men. Today, however, there are reliable methods for safeguarding the possibility of having children in the future.

HOW DO TREATMENTS AFFECT FERTILITY?

Some chemotherapy drugs and radiation to the reproductive organs can reduce or even destroy the function of the ovaries or testes. Egg and sperm production is often affected, and in some cases women experience premature menopause.

WHAT OPTIONS ARE THERE?

Today, medical science offers practical and effective solutions:

Egg or sperm cryopreservation: The most common and safest method. Eggs or sperm are collected before treatment begins and frozen for future use.
Embryo cryopreservation: For couples who have already started IVF or are ready to create embryos before treatment.
Ovarian or testicular tissue freezing: Where it is not possible to collect eggs or sperm (e.g. in children or adolescents), tissue can be removed and frozen for future use.

WHEN SHOULD YOU MAKE DECISIONS?

Ideally, before any treatment begins. A reproductive medicine specialist can guide you with respect and sensitivity, so that the approach is tailored to your own needs.

TIPS BEFORE YOU START TREATMENT:

Talk to a specialist early: The sooner you do, the more options you have.
Talk to your oncologist: Treatment can often be adjusted to limit the damage to fertility.
Get informed without fear: Knowledge brings calm and reassurance.

At the Dr. Alexandros Traianos Centre for Reproductive Medicine & Fetal Medicine, we stand by every patient who wishes to preserve their right to parenthood — even when life presents difficult challenges. 📞 Contact us to discuss your fertility preservation options with discretion and respect before your treatment begins.

TAGSDr Alexandros Traianosreproductive medicine centrereproductive healthfertilityIVFcryopreservationinfertility

ABOUT THE DOCTOR

Dr. Alexandros Traianos

Gynecologist · Specialist in Reproductive Medicine and Fetal Medicine

He supports scientific excellence in clinical practice and recognizes the possibilities offered by modern reproductive methods to couples who wish to have a child of their own.

His profile

The content of this article is for information only and does not replace a medical examination and advice.

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Frequently Asked Questions most frequently.

Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve conception after one year (or 6 months in the case of a woman over the age of 35) of normal, regular sexual intercourse. In other words, when a year has passed without the woman becoming pregnant, the couple should consult their treating physician, so that the cause preventing pregnancy can be identified and subsequently addressed. However, we should all be aware and not forget that age is the most critical factor for female fertility, and that an individualized approach to each couple is the "golden key" that solves the problem.

Of course not. In approximately one third of cases, infertility is due to the woman (female factor), while in another third of cases it is due to the man (male factor). In the remaining third, it is due to both partners (both the man and the woman) or even to unknown factors.

• alcohol • narcotic substances • environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead • smoking • health problems • medications • radiotherapy and chemotherapy • age

In general, specialists agree that the fact that a couple has already had a child may be considered evidence that, at least initially, there is no infertility problem. It is like a small test that has been carried out and shows that they “succeeded” at least once. On the other hand, however, we should be aware that circumstances may have changed in the meantime and that a problem may have developed (e.g., the man may have had an inflammation affecting the quality of his sperm, or something may have occurred that affects female fertility: an inflammation, gynecological surgery, an abortion, etc.). In any case, therefore, if a reasonable period of time (one year) passes and a couple is unable to achieve a pregnancy, then, with the help of their doctor, they should investigate whether a problem causing infertility has arisen.

Success rates vary at each IVF center. Very important factors also include the woman’s age, her hormone levels, and, of course, her husband’s sperm. In general, rates are around 45% or slightly higher for women up to 35 years of age.

The number of treatment cycles a woman may undergo is not fixed. It is certain that in our country there are highly qualified obstetrician-gynecologists and well-organized infertility treatment centers that provide excellent medical services in this field. Provided that the appropriate indications are present (e.g., ovaries that respond to stimulation treatment, a good-quality endometrium, etc.), the success rate—particularly with the use of newer techniques and biotechnological medicines, which demonstrate increased bioactivity compared with conventional urine-derived medicines—reaches a cumulative rate of approximately 65%–70% after 4 treatment cycles.

Egg retrieval takes 10–15 minutes, is not painful, is performed under sedation, and after the procedure is completed you can return to your activities.

The association between IVF medications and the risk of developing cancer is the greatest concern for women participating in these programs. However, numerous literature references gathered from reliable scientific studies and published in reputable medical journals worldwide are reassuring and do not confirm this concern.

At Dr. Traianos' Reproductive Medicine Center, we offer egg and sperm cryopreservation services for individuals who have a personal or medical reason and require this service. We use the most advanced vitrification technique for the freezing of sperm and eggs.

HOW DO TREATMENTS AFFECT FERTILITY?

WHAT OPTIONS ARE THERE?

WHEN SHOULD YOU MAKE DECISIONS?

TIPS BEFORE YOU START TREATMENT:

The first step is a discussion.

Frequently Asked Questions most frequently.

When is a couple considered infertile?

Is infertility only a female problem?

What increases the risk of male infertility?

I already have one child, but I am now having difficulty becoming pregnant again. Could a problem have arisen with me or with my partner?

What is the success rate of in vitro fertilization?

How many times can a woman undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF)?

Is egg retrieval painful?

Can IVF medications cause cancer?

Can I freeze my eggs or my sperm?