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Fertility Problems
Cancer and cancer treatment might affect your ability to have children. Learn how and why this happens, and options you might have to preserve your fertility before, during, and after treatment.
For Children and Teens
Treatment for some types of cancer can cause fertility issues later in life. If your child or teen has cancer, this might affect their ability to have children in the future. But there may be ways to reduce the risk of infertility after treatment.
Learn about fertility preservation, what questions to ask the cancer care team, and how to talk with your child or teen about their fertility.
Becoming a Parent After Cancer
Once your cancer treatment is over, you may be thinking about building your family. Your health care team and fertility specialist can help you understand your options and make a plan.
Here are the basics to get you started.
Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Fertility
We use the terms "male" and "female" to refer to sex assigned at birth. But we recognize not everyone's gender identity fits these categories.
If you are transgender, non-binary, or have other gender-diverse experiences, your fertility preservation options will be based on the reproductive organs you were born with. Your options will also depend on whether you've started gender affirming hormones or other procedures.
Talking to your cancer care team
If you are part of the LGBTQ+ community, you might need to be the one to start the conversation about your fertility. Studies show that many doctors and nurses don't know the right questions to ask.
The more information you give your cancer care team, the more they can help you get the personalized care you need. This includes information about your sexual orientation, your gender identity, what sex you were at birth, how you describe yourself now, what organs you were born with, and any hormones or gender-affirming procedures you've received.
