I have cancer and my treatment may cause infertility. Can I still have a baby?
Many people who have had cancer wish to have children in the future. Sometimes the treatments that are used to fight cancer (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery) can have negative effects on fertility. Fortunately, there are options for men and women to preserve their fertility before treatment. It is important to talk to your health care provider about your options prior to starting cancer treatment. Minnesota Oncology has partnered with the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Virginia Piper Cancer Institute, part of Allina Health, to provide timely fertility assessment, planning, and preservation for our patients.
“The goal of the initiative is to ensure that all young cancer patients are informed of the risks and their options for potential fertility preservation,” said Dr. Michaela Tsai, oncologist at Minnesota Oncology’s Minneapolis Clinic and a leader in this partnership. “There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about this process that might deter women and their providers from considering IVF. We hope to provide education and resources to reduce this barrier.”
To learn more, please visit our Fertility Preservation webpage.