Should you go for egg freezing before chemotherapy? Fertility expert has an answer

New Delhi: Navigating breast cancer can be overwhelming, especially when it lowers the possibility of starting a family. Chemotherapy can significantly impact fertility, leaving many women feeling uncertain about their futures. Fortunately, options like egg freezing offer hope for these women. Here are some reasons why fertility preservation is important for breast cancer patients.

In an interaction with News9Live, Dr. Neha Tripathi Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, Indirapuram, Delhi NCR, spoke about the effects of breast cancer on fertility.

“Cancer occurs when the cells in your body start to multiply abnormally uncontrollably. These abnormal cells can form tumors and further spread to other parts of your body. One of the most common types of cancer in women is breast cancer. Millions of women in India and worldwide tend to lose their lives due to breast cancer. When cancer is detected, patients are often needed to undergo chemotherapy. This particular treatment is done to kill cancer cells with the help of strong modification,” Dr Tripathi.

While this treatment is highly effective, it comes with its own set of side effects. This can include side effects like hair loss, fatigue, nausea, mucositis, extreme changes in appetite, anemia, significant changes in the shape and size of the nails, problems concentrating, and gastrointestinal issues. Chemotherapy can severely affect fertility and reproductive health in women. This can make it challenging for them to conceive naturally in the future. This is why these women are often suggested to preserve their eggs through egg freezing before starting their chemotherapy journey.

Why Fertility Preservation is Important for Breast Cancer Patients

1. Risk of Fertility Loss: While going through chemotherapy there are higher chances of ovaries getting harmed. The ovaries are responsible for producing eggs. These severe damage to the ovaries can often lead to temporary or permanent infertility in women, making it difficult to conceive later in life.
2. Emotional Well-being: Individuals go through a rollercoaster of emotions while going through chemotherapy. The uncertainty of losing fertility can take a heavy toll on one’s mental health during this already difficult situation. Knowing that you have the option to freeze your egg and preserve your fertility can provide instant relief and ignite hope to explore parenthood in the future.
3. Family planning: For many women, it is a dream to start their family and experience the joy of parenthood. Egg freezing provides them hope that they can still become parents even after going through chemotherapy.
4. Technological advancement: Over the years, the process of egg freezing has seen notable progress and improvement which can be helpful for those diagnosed with any type of cancer. It is an effective and a safer option. Technological advancement when combined with modern techniques increases the chances of conceiving.
5. Consult your doctor: Before you begin with your chemotherapy it becomes essential for you to consult a fertility specialist to know more about the options to preserve your fertility. This one-on-one consultation with your doctor can be helpful in understanding and exploring the best possible option.