Two Thirds of Women Childhood Cancer Survivors Conceive despite Clinical Infertility: Study

Women who are childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk for infertility. However, a new study has found that two out of three such women in U.S and Canada successfully conceived at a rate that is similar to women who were deemed clinically infertile but weren't diagnosed with cancer. 

Cancer therapies increase the odds of early menopause or failed ovaries that lead to infertility in many cancer survivors. The present study found that women who underwent years of cancer therapy in their childhood were more likely to experience early menopause when compared with their female siblings. In the study, cancer survivors were found to be about 50 percent more likely to be infertile than their siblings.

The study was based on data from sexually active women who were survivors of childhood cancer and 1366 of their female siblings, who acted as controls in the study.

The research team led by Dr Sara Barton of Brigham and Women's Hospital found that two thirds or 64 percent of the study participants, who were diagnosed to be clinically infertile, conceived naturally.

"To our knowledge, ours is the first large study of female childhood cancer survivors to quantify the risk of infertility that is based on a clinical definition, and characterises the use and success of infertility treatments in this setting. These data confirm a high risk for infertility and childlessness for female cancer survivors that have received high doses of alkylating agent chemotherapy or pelvic radiation," Barton said in a news release.

The study also found that although both the groups of women would seek medical help for infertility, only half of cancer survivors were put on infertility treatment.  

"We do not have data about why providers did not prescribe infertility drugs, but are concerned about a provider bias against treating cancer survivors for infertility," Barton added.

The study is published in the journal The Lancet.