Fertility Preservation and Pregnancy After Cancer

The decision to have a baby after cancer treatment is often difficult for cancer survivors.

Pregnancy after cancer treatment is generally safe, but your cancer care team can help you:

• Understand the impact your cancer treatment had on your body.
• Decide how long to wait before becoming pregnant.
• Consider other factors that may impact fertility and maternal-fetal health.

At UPMC, our cancer care team will work closely with you to address future fertility concerns before your treatment. After your treatment, our experts will work closely with your obstetrician to help you determine the best way to safely expand your family.

What Is Fertility Preservation and Pregnancy After Cancer?

Some cancer treatments can affect your ability to have a child in the future. Fertility preservation protects embryos, eggs, or your ovaries to give you a better chance of having a child after treatment. Although no fertility preservation method works 100% of the time, your doctor can help you understand your cancer treatment options, how they may impact a future pregnancy, and your fertility preservation options.

What Types of Fertility Preservation and Pregnancy After Cancer Services Do We Offer? 

Various factors affect fertility preservation and pregnancy planning before, during, and after cancer treatment. Our multidisciplinary team is with you every step of the way, providing services that include:

Pregnancy safety consultation

Becoming pregnant following cancer treatment by be safe. But your doctor may advise you to wait a period of time after your treatment ends. This waiting period depends on the type and stage of cancer and the treatment you received.

Male cancer survivors may also be advised to wait for a period of time before fathering a child.

Your doctor will also talk to you about whether your body can safely handle pregnancy. Your treatment may have caused damage to your heart or lungs, which could worsen with the stress of pregnancy.

Our cancer experts will collaborate with your obstetrician and recommend the best way for you to safely expand your family.

Fertility preservation

Some cancer treatments can make it difficult or impossible for you to have children in the future. Before treatment begins, our team will work with you to understand your future fertility goals and plan your treatment and fertility preservation care accordingly.

Fertility preservation and assistance services include:

Emotional support

We understand the range of emotions that can come with the realization that you may be unable to have children in the future. Our social workers can connect you with resources to help you cope with these feelings.

Assisted reproduction

Age or cancer treatment may have reduced your egg reserve. In this case, you may be able to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

During IVF, your (or your donor’s) eggs are fertilized with sperm outside your body. These fertilized eggs are called embryos. The embryos can be transferred into your body at a later date to develop into a baby.

Your uterus must be healthy for IVF to be successful. You will also have to take hormones before and after the procedure.

Donor eggs

You may be able to use another woman’s eggs to get pregnant.

These eggs are fertilized in a laboratory with the sperm of your partner or a donor using IVF techniques. By law, all donors are screened for psychological issues, medical conditions, and potential genetic diseases before they are allowed to donate eggs.

Donor sperm

A man who did not bank sperm before cancer treatment may use donor sperm to become a father. This sperm is screened for infectious diseases and is typically donated anonymously through a sperm bank. The physical traits of the donor are usually recorded.

Testicular sperm extraction/epididymal sperm extraction

During this procedure, a small amount of tissue is removed from the testicle. It is examined for mature sperm, which can be frozen or used immediately for IVF. This procedure is for men who do not have mature sperm in their semen.

Donor embryos

A couple may donate extra embryos after infertility treatment. These embryos are transferred into the uterus of a woman who wants to have a child.

As with IVF, the woman will have to take hormones before and after the embryos are inserted. This procedure allows a woman with a healthy uterus to experience pregnancy. By law, the couple donating the embryos must be screened for psychological issues, medical conditions, and potential genetic diseases.

Additional pregnancy resources

Our fertility preservation team can refer you for other pregnancy-related services, including:

Surrogacy and gestational carriers

You may choose to have another woman carry your baby if pregnancy puts your health at risk. This woman is called a surrogate if she becomes pregnant through artificial insemination using her eggs and your partner’s sperm. If an embryo from you and your partner is implanted into the woman, she is called a gestational carrier.

Consult with an attorney if you are considering either option.

Adoption

You may prefer to adopt a child if you are unable to have your own biological children. Adoption is the permanent legal transfer of parental rights of a child from the biological parents to another couple or individual.

Cancer survivors are generally allowed to adopt, though some agencies will require a letter from your doctor verifying good health. Other agencies may require you to wait for a specified period after treatment.

Why Choose UPMC for Fertility Preservation and Pregnancy After Cancer? 

When you choose UPMC for fertility preservation and pregnancy after cancer, you will receive compassionate care. Our experts provide guidance and advice on a comprehensive range of options for individuals and couples seeking to have a child after cancer treatment.