The chemotherapy and radiation therapy you received as your preparative regime can affect your ability to have children (fertility) in the future. Some men might experience a decreased or absent sperm count after cancer treatment. Some women stop having their menstrual cycles after a transplant and begin menopause. However, do not assume you are unable to father a child or get pregnant unless this has been medically verified.
You may request testing from your doctors. Concerns about being biologically able to have children might be distressing, so it might help to seek counseling with your social worker. It might help you to talk about fertility loss and its impact on you and your partner or future partner. If you do wish to start a family after cancer treatment, talk to your health care provider about the timing of a pregnancy after treatment.
Even though infertility (the inability to have children) might occur after cancer treatment, it is still possible to get pregnant, so both men and women should use birth control after treatment. Birth control is important after your transplant because the medicines you will be taking might be harmful to a developing fetus. Follow your health care provider’s recommendations on the appropriate method of birth control to use.
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