Effects of radiotherapy on fertility

Effects on women Back to top

Most radiotherapy treatment has no effect on your ability to have children unless the ovaries are included in the treatment area.

Many healthy babies have been born to women who have had radiotherapy. The risk of having a baby with health problems is not increased if you have had treatment in the past. Many cancer specialists recommend that women wait for about two years after having radiotherapy before trying to get pregnant. This is to give the body a chance to get over the effects of the cancer and its treatment.

If radiotherapy treatment is given for cancer of the cervix|, womb| or ovary| and includes the ovaries, temporary or permanent infertility is likely. This can be very difficult to come to terms with.

Effects on men Back to top

In men, sperm production can be reduced if the testicles are in the area being treated, and this can lead to temporary or permanent infertility. Fortunately, it’s usually possible to avoid giving radiotherapy to the testicles when treating cancers that are common in younger men.

Radiotherapy for prostate| or bladder| cancer is likely to cause permanently low sperm counts, which can reduce your fertility.

Information about fertility Back to top

Before you have radiotherapy, your clinical oncologist should discuss the risk of infertility with you. They’ll normally ask you to sign a form consenting to treatment. Understandably, this can be a traumatic time, particularly for young people who were planning to have children.

If you have a partner, they will be encouraged to join this meeting, giving both of you a chance to discuss any concerns you have.