Anticancer treatment and fertility effects. Literature review

Abstract

Chemotherapic regimens include mutagenic agents. The risk for reproductive abnormalities is increased in patients treated with such antiblastic drugs, mostly before or during their fertile period. The effect of chemotherapy on male and female gonadal function is related to the type of used agent and their cumulative doses. Other antineoplastic approaches, such as radiation therapy or hormonal therapy, can also negatively influence fertility. In the evaluation of quality of life of people affected by malignancies, infertility is considered an important issue. For this reason a large number of options have been tested as fertility preserving strategies--many are promising but still at an experimental stage.