Posts Tagged ‘Chemotherapy’
Friday, November 4th, 2011
The term “biological clock” is often used to describe a woman’s fertility. But what in the world does it really mean? Essentially, it’s important to understand that it refers, basically, to the diminishing amount of viable eggs that she has in her body.
When a female is born, she has about two million eggs. That number never increases, so what she has is what her body will one day use to potentially conceive a child. But when a woman begins to menstruate, her number of eggs has already dropped by about four-fifths to 400,000 total eggs.
As the months and years progress, she will lose about 12,000 eggs annually. At that rate, she will have no eggs within 33 years or so from the onset of menses, which is the point where menopause takes over.
Of course, other factors are involved in what happens to her eggs. Illnesses and medical conditions can affect the strength and health of the eggs over time, sometimes leaving them unavailable for fertilization. For instance, chemotherapy and radiation for cancer can create female fertility issues. (This is why some women free their eggs prior to undergoing such types of treatments.)
Getting back to the “biological clock”, though, it’s critical for all women to realize that there’s no set time period. The aforementioned figures are only generalizations and statistics. That’s why it’s important not to make assumptions without medical assistance to back up theories.
At The Reproductive Science Institute (RSI) of Suburban Philadelphia, we’re here to answer any questions related to female fertility or other similar concerns. Give us a call today and set up an appointment to learn more about your personal situation.
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Tags: 33 Years, Biological Clock, Chemotherapy, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, Female Fertility, Fertility Issues, Fertility Treatment, Fertilization, Four Fifths, Generalizations, Illnesses, Medical Assistance, Medical Conditions, Menopause, Menses, PA Infertility, Personal Situation, Philadelphia Infertility, Reproductive Science Institute, Rsi, Suburban Philadelphia, Two Million, Viable Eggs, Wyomissing
Posted in female infertility | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
There has been a great deal of press recently over the realization and acceptance of cancer treatments during early childhood and adulthood as a contributor to female infertility. As a consequence, girls and women who choose to undergo radiation and chemotherapy treatments are often counseled as to their options regarding their future fertility.
But what about the men and boys with cancer?
Not surprisingly, male infertility can be exacerbated or caused by cancer treatments, especially if they’ve been given drugs such as melphalan, ifosfamide, cyclophosphamide and/or procarbazine. (Those medications have high alkaline levels.) And if they’ve needed to undergo surgery or targeted radiation to their reproductive organs as a result of cancer, they may be left without healthy sperm. Sometimes, male infertility can even come about from treatments to other areas of the body, such as the abdomen or brain.
So what are men with cancer who wish to have children later in life to do?
First, it’s important to tackle the cancer as a primary concern. Though male infertility may be a consideration, it is not the most pressing one. The cancer needs to be handled foremost. However, it’s definitely recommended that all men (or parents of boys) discuss how their treatments could have lasting effects on their fertility.
Next, if a man who has had cancer (even if it was as a young child) is having difficulty conceiving with his partner, it’s critical that he be upfront about his medical history with their fertility specialist. That way, the specialist can initiate tests to determine if the infertility is related to previous cancer treatments.
Finally, it’s not the end of the world. Many fertility specialists have found success with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a process that requires only one sperm for fertilization. There are other options as well, including the use of viable sperm donors.
If you’d like to learn more about male infertility matters as they relate to cancer and other conditions and you are within traveling distance of Wyomissing or Chesterbrook, we invite you to set up a consultation with The Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, P.C. (RSI) today.
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Tags: Abdomen, Adulthood, Cancer Treatments, Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy Treatments, Cyclophosphamide, Dr. Hearns, Dr. Munabi, female infertility, fertility specialist, Fertility Specialists, Fertilization, Healthy Sperm, Infertility, Male Fertility, Male Infertility, Medical History, Melphalan, Philadelphia PA Infertility, Procarbazine, Reproductive Organs, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Sperm Donors, Sperm Injection, Wyomissing PA Infertility
Posted in Male Infertility | No Comments »
Friday, July 22nd, 2011
For women, especially those under 40, a diagnosis of breast cancer is difficult enough to hear. But when compounded with the fact that she might not be able to retain her fertility after undergoing chemotherapy, it can be doubly devastating.
Realizing this, researchers have begun medical treatments on younger females who have early stage breast cancer to suppress the women’s ovaries. Using triptorelin, physicians in an Italian study have successfully been able to help breast cancer victims stave off early menopause, a common side effect of chemotherapy. Patients in the study were able to potentially avoid permanently losing their fertility, enabling them to possibly have children naturally in the future.
The use of triptorelin to reduce the rate of early menopause in subjects by greater than 17 percent made waves throughout the international fertility treatment community, especially after the Italian study was made public earlier this week by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Of course, it’s important to note that results haven’t been confirmed long-term and are only the tip of the iceberg. Cautions oncologist Lucia Del Mastro, the study’s leading author, in an article widely spread throughout the Internet:
“This strategy [of using triptorelin] increases the probability of ovarian function maintenance but it doesn’t assure the fertility.”
Still, it’s a happy prospect for women who have been given the devastating news that they have breast cancer and who want to have children later in life.
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Tags: Abraham Munabi, American Medical Association, Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Victims, Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy Patients, Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer, Dr. Munabi, Early Menopause, Facebook, Females, Fertility Treatment, Italian Study, Journal Of The American Medical Association, Mastro, Medical Treatments, Menopause, Oncologist, Ovaries, Probability, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Stage Breast Cancer, Tip Of The Iceberg, Triptorelin, Twitter
Posted in Cancer, female infertility | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
In medical news…
Japanese researchers have reproduced sperm in an effort to better understand the process of spermatogenesis and possibly help increase infertile men’s abilities to naturally reproduce.
During numerous experiments, test tube-created sperm from infant mice cells were developed “artificially” in the lab environment and subsequently injected into female mice ova. The result? Healthy mouse babies that were all born fertile themselves.
Though this research has not been tested on other animals (and certainly not humans), the implications for men suffering from male infertility (or who may suffer from male infertility, as would be the case with young men undergoing cancer treatments) are abundant.
The Japanese scientists are highly encouraged by the idea that freezing testicular tissues before any male infertility issues arise (e.g., prior to chemotherapy or radiation), sperm can later be made in the laboratory and then used to fertilize eggs.
Quick stat:
Male infertility is estimated to affect approximately 30% of men around the world. Although most are what is considered to be “sub-fertile”, around 2% of all males are entirely infertile.
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Tags: Cancer Treatments, Cells, Chemotherapy, Dr. Munabi, Eggs, Female Mice, infertile men, Infertility, Infertility News, Infertility Treatments, Japanese Researchers, Japanese Scientists, Lab Environment, Male Infertility, Male Infertility Issues, Medical News, Process Of Spermatogenesis, Quick Stat, radiation, Reproductive Science Institute of Suburban Philadelphia, Rsi, Test Tube, Tissues, Young Men
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Friday, February 25th, 2011
It is understandable that individuals who fought cancer and are in remission want to go on and lead their normal lives. For those in the childbearing years, this could very likely include starting a family at some point. Unfortunately, though, the odds are high for female infertility in individuals who have undergone chemotherapy. Why do we only mention women, you may ask. Because women are born with their ovaries containing all the eggs they will ever have in their lives, where as men’s sperm is continually replenished throughout their reproductive lives. Thus, chemotherapy is much more likely to spread to and effect a woman’s ovaries than to have a long-lasting effect on a man’s sperm.
Luckily, there are so many options for a woman who wants to have children these days. If you have not yet undergone chemotherapy, but know that you will, talk to your doctor about the state of your health and whether a procedure of removing some of your eggs to have them frozen for future use would be something you could withstand prior to your chemotherapy treatments. If not, or if you have already undergone chemotherapy and now find that you are facing infertility, there are still plenty of options for you! You could look into egg donation and IVF or perhaps surrogacy. A study is also currently in the works in Melbourne, Australia, testing the effectiveness of goserelin in protecting the ovaries of the women to whom it has been administered prior to their chemotherapy treatments. Please feel free to contact us at RSI for a consultation or if you have any questions.
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Tags: Cancer, Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy Treatments, Childbearing Years, Consultation, Egg Donation, Eggs, female infertility, Goserelin, health, Infertility, IVF, Lead, Melbourne Australia, Odds, Ovaries, Reproductive Science, Rsi, sperm, surrogacy
Posted in Cancer, Infertility | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
When women undergo many of the common cancer treatments — radiation, chemotherapy — they often wind up with fertility issues, including the loss of one or both ovaries. That’s why the trial of a new drug that could help protect the ovaries during these cancer treatments is so exciting.
Making news in the online papers of Melbourne, the medication, goserelin, is scheduled to be tested on a group of Australian women who are battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After they have completed their cancer treatments, the subjects will be examined and the condition of their ovaries assessed periodically for five years.
As results of the study become available, we at RSI will let you know more about the outcomes of the research.
Tags: Australian Women, Cancer Chemotherapy, Cancer Radiation, Cancer Treatments, Chemotherapy, Fertility Issues, Goserelin, Hodgkin S Lymphoma, Lymphoma, Medication, Melbourne, Non Hodgkin S Lymphoma, Ovaries
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Monday, December 13th, 2010
Kylie Minogue, the pop singer from “Down Under” who stole America’s collective heart in the late 1980s is now 42 and may soon be the latest star to try fertility treatments.
Minogue has announced she’s seriously considering working with an egg donor so she can conceive. She’s concerned that chemotherapy and radiation as a result of treating breast cancer in 2005 has most likely left her unable to have a baby naturally.
Minogue’s age could also play a factor. Studies have shown that women over 40 have a decreased likelihood of being able to get pregnant. Thus, fertility treatments could provide an effective solution.
Though Minogue hasn’t made an official decision, we’ll definitely keep you posted!
Tags: 1980s, Breast Cancer, Chemotherapy, Collective Heart, Effective Solution, Egg Donor, Fertility Treatments, Hasn, Kylie Minogue, Likelihood, Pop Singer, Pop Star, Pregnant, radiation, Women Over 40
Posted in Hollywood and Stars | No Comments »
Friday, October 22nd, 2010
In news that pleasantly surprised fertility specialists around the globe and heartened would-be parents, an embryo that had been frozen for 20 years was used to fertilize a 42-year-old woman who could not conceive naturally. (The two-decade old embryo was from an unrelated donor.) The woman is a resident of the United States and gave birth in May to a healthy boy.
The news item raises some interesting questions, including how long an embryo can stay viable while frozen. Some fertility doctors speculate that 20 years isn’t even close to the length of time that’s potentially possible. One recent study even estimated that the passage of 40 years wouldn’t be a problem if the embryo had been stored correctly.
This gives great hope to women who decide to freeze their eggs at an early age if they know they are going to undergo a procedure such as radiation or chemotherapy which can rob them of their fertility. Using a surrogate, if necessary, they can use their own frozen embryos to create new life.
Tags: Chemotherapy, Decade, Eggs, embryo, Fertility Doctors, Fertility Specialists, Frozen Embryos, Globe, Interesting Questions, Length Of Time, Miracles, News Item, Old Woman, Parents, radiation, Surrogate, United States, Unrelated Donor
Posted in Egg Donation, In the News | No Comments »
Saturday, July 10th, 2010
Men who expect to one day become fathers may have serious decisions to make if they are diagnosed with cancer, as many types of treatment options can leave a cancer patient infertile.
How quickly does the process of infertility happen? Some researchers say that within a week of undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, a male’s infertility can be seriously — or entirely — compromised.
The phenomenon isn’t limited to testicular cancer, either, because it’s not where the cancer strikes that’s at issue; it’s what kind of remedy is chosen to eradicate (or slow) the cancer cells.
Though men who have been diagnosed as having cancer are usually not considering future concerns such as whether they can have children, it may be worth investigating options, such as the freezing of healthy sperm pre-treatment.
Cyclist Lance Armstrong did before he underwent treatment to deal with his cancer, and other men around the world have done so, too.
Certainly, the foremost goal is to attack the cancer. But it’s worth thinking long-term, too.
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Tags: Add New Tag, Cancer Cells, Cancer Patient, Cancer Strikes, Chemotherapy, Cyclist Lance Armstrong, Decisions, Foremost Goal, Infertility, Lance Armstrong, Miracles, Phenomenon, radiation, Remedy, Testicular Cancer, Treatment Options
Posted in Male Infertility | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
It’s good news for women who are diagnosed with certain cancers — their medical conditions don’t have to lead to infertility.
Many times, depending upon the treatments available to tackle cancer (including chemotherapy and radiation), women can become partially or entirely infertile. Though their cancer may be gone, they are left with a difficult realization that naturally conceiving and giving birth may be difficult or impossible.
Now, though, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released positive news about revolutionary new ways oncofertility specialists are preserving fertility (or fertility options) for women and girls (even those who are pre-pubescent) who must undergo cancer treatments.
As reported by the ACOG, Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, recently lectured that there is…:
“A promising new technique for preserving ovarian tissue [that] has the potential to safeguard the future fertility even of very young girls…”
This is a heartening suggestion, especially for women who potentially want to have children who are given a cancer diagnosis.
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Tags: Acog, American College Of Obstetricians, American College Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists, Cancer Chemotherapy, Cancer Diagnosis, Cancer In Women, Cancer Treatments, Chemotherapy, Feinberg School Of Medicine, Fertility, Giving Birth, Infertility, Medical Conditions, New Ways, Northwestern University Feinberg School Of Medicine, Obstetricians And Gynecologists, oncofertility, Positive News, School Of Medicine, Woodruff, Young Girls
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