Will I be able to become pregnant after having cancer?

Q: Will I be able to become pregnant after having cancer? 

A: You may have stopped menstruating as a result of treatment. Don’t despair. If you still have your ovaries and are young, there’s a good chance your periods will return. After treatment and a surveillance period to monitor you for any cancer return, you may be able to get pregnant.

If you have your uterus, but not your ovaries, you could become pregnant by using in vitro fertilization (IVF) and a donor egg. With ovaries but no uterus, you can use IVF to have one of your eggs placed in a surrogate mother who would carry the pregnancy.

Discuss how to time a pregnancy attempt with your doctor. Use contraception throughout treatment until you’re medically cleared to become pregnant.
--Kathy Newman, RN, BSN

Whether you’re thinking about becoming pregnant after treatment or not, it’s vital to have good follow-up care.