Female Infertility: Suggestions
Talk to your health care team about your fertility:
You may find it difficult or uncomfortable to talk to your health care team about your sexual health. It is very personal. But talking to your health care team may be the only way you can get the help you need. Don't wait. It's important to get help with infertility as soon as possible.
Some questions you might want to ask your health care team before treatment:
- Will this treatment affect my fertility?
- Are there alternative cancer treatments with fewer side effects on my fertility?
- Can I safely delay my treatment to undergo a fertility preservation procedure?
Some questions you might want to ask your health care team after treatment:
- Is it safe for me to use fertility drugs?
- Is pregnancy safe for me?
- How long should I wait before I try to get pregnant?
If you have already finished your treatment and are thinking about your fertility for the first time, you may want to set up an appointment with your oncologist to discuss your treatment and its possible effects on your fertility. Your fertility may not have been affected at all. If you are at risk, ask your oncologist to refer you to a good fertility specialist who can help you with fertility problems.
Find a fertility clinic:
Fertility clinics at nearby major cancer centers are more likely to have specialists with experience working with cancer survivors who are trying to have children. If your cancer center or hospital does not have its own fertility clinic or specialist, ask a member of your health care team for a referral.
Questions to ask a fertility specialist/clinic:
- Are you covered by my health insurance?
- Are you experienced in egg, ovarian tissue and embryo freezing?
- Do you have experience working with cancer survivors?
Information on fertility programs can also be found on the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology Web site www.sart.org.
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