Fertility effects of cancer treatment.
BACKGROUND
Cancer sufferers are a subfertile group, and most treatments have the potential to adversely affect gonadal function. As cancer treatment becomes more effective and survival rates improve there are more cancer survivors in the reproductive age group for whom parenting is an important consideration.


OBJECTIVE
This article outlines the effects on fertility of cancer treatments and techniques to minimise the risk of infertility.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall prospects for younger cancer sufferers to either retain their fertility or have genetic offspring is now better than ever before, due to advances in assisted reproductive technology, the appropriate use of fertility sparing surgery and other techniques to reduce the toxicity of therapy on the reproductive organs. These advances raise new moral and ethical concerns that must be considered before advising cancer sufferers of the options for preserving reproductive capacity.
Marsden
Donald E
DE
d.marsden@unsw.edu.au
Hacker
Neville
N
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000637:transplantation; D012662:Semen Preservation; D013048:Specimen Handling; D017741:Survivors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents