A retrospective analysis of women's chances to become pregnant after completion of chemotherapy: a single center experience

J BUON. 2011 Apr-Jun;16(2):349-52.

Abstract

Purpose: With the improvement in anticancer therapies, the survival of women with malignancies has increased and infertility may affect the quality of life of premenopausal women, who experience temporary or permanent amenorrhea due to chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to review the rate of pregnancies among women with malignancy previously treated with chemotherapy.

Methods: We retrospectively recorded 317 women younger than 40 years of age who were treated with chemotherapy (and a number of them with additional radiotherapy/RT) due to several malignancies between 2007-2010. The patients who got pregnant after stopping chemotherapy and during followup were analyzed.

Results: Among women with breast cancer (n=116), malignant lymphoma (n=85), ovarian cancer (n=26) and colon cancer (n=90), 20 got pregnant after a median 22.9 months (range 10.7-96.5) from the end of chemotherapy. Childbearing was uneventful and newborns were healthy.

Conclusion: Women who had previously received chemotherapy for malignancy can get pregnant and deliver healthy newborns.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / chemically induced
  • Infertility, Female / prevention & control*
  • Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / prevention & control*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult