Timeline of your fertility options

The fertility options available to you depend on where you are in your cancer journey

  1. Breast cancer diagnosis

    Before you begin chemotherapy or hormone therapy all the fertility options may be available to you.

    Fertility options:

    • Wait and see
    • Embryo freezing
    • Egg freezing
    • Ovarian suppression

  2. Making a decision before chemotherapy and hormone therapy

    Think about what is important to you for each fertility option. Talk with your partner or support persons and healthcare team to make a decision that is best for you.

    Fertility options:

    • Wait and see
    • Embryo freezing
    • Egg freezing
    • Ovarian suppression

  3. During chemotherapy and hormone therapy

    Once you start treatment you are at risk of not being able to have a natural pregnancy. You cannot freeze your eggs or embryos at this time and should not get pregnant.

    Fertility options:

    • Wait and see

  4. Making a decision after chemotherapy and hormone therapy

    After treatment you may experience normal fertility, early menopause, or be unable to have a natural pregnancy even if your period returns

    Fertility options:

    • Natural pregnancy if your ovarian function returns
    • In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer if you froze embryos or eggs before treatment or have high quality eggs remaining in your ovaries
    • Egg or embryo donor
    • Surrogacy
    • Adoption
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