Women Infertility Awareness Month: Debunking Cancer Infertility Myths

The one-month-long event that is Women Infertility Awareness Month seeks to raise awareness about the social and emotional aspects of infertility, which affect women and men. One in eight couples are affected by infertility, and it also encourages dialogue about fertility preservation.

Unfortunately, there are many myths when it comes to cancer and infertility. These misconceptions affect those with cancer who are trying to conceive children. Let us debunk some of these myths and go through what you need to know about your fertility health.

Myth 1: Women with Cancer Cannot Have Children After Treatment

Reality: This is not true! Although fertility rates vary depending on the type of cancer and the stage at which it is found, most patients can still have children after cancer-related treatments.

Myth 2: Ovarian or Breast Cancer Causes Infertility

Some of the most common forms of cancer in women are breast and ovarian cancer, and there are many myths surrounding these diseases that need to be debunked. One such myth is that a woman with breast cancer will become infertile because of her treatment. While this may happen to some women, it's not an inevitable side effect of undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Ovarian cancer can cause more severe fertility rate issues, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to have children. Patients need to discuss fertility preservation options before undergoing cancer treatments.

Myth 3: Cervical Cancer Causes Infertility

While cervical cancer can complicate pregnancy, it doesn't affect infertility or the ability to conceive. It's essential to catch cancer early because the earlier it's treated, the more infertility issues can be avoided.

Myth 4: Only Women with Cancer Cause Infertility

Though having infertility after cancer treatment isn't a certainty, the issue is not exclusive to just women. Sometimes cancers in men, such as testicular cancer or Hodgkin's disease, may cause problems with pregnancies. Luckily, as stated above, there are fertility preservation options for men.