Kansas City Drug Treatment: Cancer in Women – Saving Your Fertility After Cancer Treatments

Saving your fertility after cancer treatment depends on several factors for women. The kind of cancer, type and length of treatment received, drug dosage, surgeries performed, and a woman’s age all play a role in how quickly you can recover your fertility, or if the effects of the cancer treatment will leave you permanently infertile.  It’s important to talk to your Kansas City fertility doctors both before and after cancer treatment to learn what your options are for starting a family.

For most women, your menstrual periods will either stop or become irregular during treatment. After finishing your cancer treatment, it may take 6 months to a year before your period returns. Both chemotherapy and radiation can also damage the eggs. It is thought that most damaged eggs are expelled from the body within 6 months, but because of the chance of recurring cancer, many doctors recommend waiting 2 years before attempting to get pregnant. It is possible that your body may recover and ovulation will resume on its own, allowing you to get pregnant naturally. However, women over age 30 and those receiving chemotherapy or radiation to the pelvis are at risk for sudden, early menopause even if menstruation resumes.

Permanent infertility from cancer treatments can be caused by hysterectomy, total body irradiation, or premature ovarian failure (menopause before the age of 40). If the ovaries are both surgically removed, or are damaged by chemotherapy or high doses of radiation,  premature ovarian failure occurs.

Sometimes it is not possible to take measures before cancer treatment to preserve your fertility. Aggressive cancers may require that you start treatment immediately, not allowing you the time needed for egg stimulation and collection. Your fertility doctors in Kansas City may advise against egg collection if you have certain types of cancer, such as hormone dependent breast cancer. If you are unable to take steps to preserve your fertility before starting cancer treatments, there are still options available, such as:

Donor Eggs- Eggs may be donated anonymously, or the donor may be known to the recipients. All egg donors should be screened to be sure they are medically and psychologically healthy. Kansas City fertility doctors have donor programs available through their clinics.

Embryo Donation- Couples that have previously participated in assisted reproductive technology may have unused frozen embryos that they are willing to donate to other couples.

Surrogacy- An option for women that cannot carry a pregnancy due to loss of the uterus or to high risk. There are two types of surrogates. A gestational carrier is a woman who carries a pregnancy for the genetic parents. (The intended parents supply the egg and sperm.) A traditional surrogate contributes her egg, is artificially inseminated with the father’s semen, and carries the pregnancy. Genetically, she is the mother of the infant.

Adoption- Some couples choose to forgo infertility treatments and decide to adopt instead.

Mo. House defeats cut to welfare drug treatment

Filed under: Kansas City Drug Treatment

House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City, opposed the amendment. He said lawmakers need to follow through on their commitment to fund treatment for welfare recipients who use drugs. The House was expected to continue debating the …
Read more on The Rolla Daily News

Mo. House defeats cut to welfare drug treatment

Filed under: Kansas City Drug Treatment

House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City, opposed the amendment. He said lawmakers need to follow through on their commitment to fund treatment for welfare recipients who use drugs. And he defended the decision to reduce medical aid …
Read more on STLtoday.com

KANSAS SPEEDWAY OFFERING FREE ADMISSION ON APRIL 20, REQUESTING DONATIONS TO …

Filed under: Kansas City Drug Treatment

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (April 5, 2012) – Kansas Speedway is offering fans free admission to the grandstands on Friday, April 20 for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practices. In lieu of admission, Kansas Speedway is requesting …
Read more on SpeedwayMedia.com (press release)