The short version
- Some breast cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy and hormone therapy, can affect your fertility.
- If you might want children in the future, ask about fertility preservation as soon as possible, before treatment starts. Egg freezing usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks.1
- Fertility preservation for medical reasons such as cancer is generally available on the NHS, although what’s offered depends on where you live.1
Why treatment can affect fertility
- Chemotherapy can damage the eggs in your ovaries and may bring on an early menopause.
- Hormone therapy, such as tamoxifen, is usually taken for 5 to 10 years, and you’ll be advised not to get pregnant while taking it.2
- The effect depends on your age, the treatment and your fertility before treatment.
You should be advised to avoid pregnancy during treatment, as treatment can harm a developing baby. Talk to your team about contraception.3
Ask early
If you think you might want children, or aren’t sure yet, tell your team as soon as possible and ask for a referral to a fertility specialist. The time to act is before chemotherapy starts.
Any delay to cancer treatment, and how it might affect you, should be discussed with your oncologist.1
Options
| Option | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Egg freezing | Hormone medicines stimulate your ovaries, then eggs are collected under sedation and frozen. Takes about 2 to 3 weeks on average.1 |
| Embryo freezing | Eggs are fertilised with a partner’s or donor’s sperm, and the embryos are frozen. Embryos are more likely than eggs to survive freezing and thawing.1 |
| Ovarian tissue freezing | A piece of ovary is removed, usually by keyhole surgery, frozen, and later put back. Only available in specialist centres, and may be an option if egg freezing isn’t possible.1 |
Your fertility specialist will talk to you about how the hormone medicines used for egg collection can be adapted for people with breast cancer.
Some people are also offered a hormone injection during chemotherapy to help protect the ovaries. Ask your team whether this might be suitable for you.
Storage
Frozen embryos, and sperm, can usually be stored for 10 years at first, and for up to 55 years in some circumstances.1 Your fertility clinic will explain the rules and the paperwork.
Questions to ask
- How might my treatment affect my fertility?
- Can I be referred to a fertility specialist now?
- Is fertility preservation funded on the NHS where I live?
- How long will it take, and could it delay my treatment?
- When would it be safe to try for a baby after treatment?
Support
- Fertility Network UK has information and a support line: 01424 732361, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.1
- Breast Cancer Now helpline: free on 0808 800 6000.4
- Shine Cancer Support, for adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s with cancer.
Related pages
Everyone’s treatment is different, so talk to your cancer team about what is right for you.
References
- Fertility Network UK. Fertility preservation. fertilitynetworkuk.org/learn-about-fertility/fertility-preservation/
- Breast Cancer Now. Hormone (endocrine) therapy. breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/treatment/hormone-endocrine-therapy
- Breast Cancer Now. Sex after breast cancer. breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/life-after-treatment/sex-after-breast-cancer/
- Breast Cancer Now. Call our helpline. breastcancernow.org/support-for-you/call-our-helpline