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Chemotherapy often affects the follicles in the ovaries that produce eggs. It may suppress egg production temporarily, leading to a temporary cessation of menstrual periods, or menstrual irregularity, or it may stop it permanently. When this happens, the menopause commences, and it is not possible to fall pregnant. The chances of chemotherapy-induced menopause increase with age. At age 30 fewer than one in three women will experience an early menopause from AC chemotherapy, while at age 45 the chances are over 90%. In all women, even if menstruation resumes normally after chemotherapy it is likely that the menopause will be experienced at an earlier age than would otherwise have been the case. Cessation of periods during chemotherapy cannot be relied upon for contraception and the use of barrier methods is strongly advised. bbb  While claims have been made that the use of oral contraceptives or injections of drugs like Zoladex prevent infertility, there is no good evidence for this. Currently the only way to preserve fertility is to have fertilized eggs frozen and stored prior to the commencement of chemotherapy. This is arranged by the Fertility Clinic, run at Westmead by Professor Peter Illingworth. Briefly, injections are given to stimulate the production of multiple eggs. The eggs are harvested about 10 days later by passing a tube through the vagina. Donor sperm is obtained from the patients partner and used to fertilise the harvested eggs which are then stored permanently in liquid nitrogen. These fertilized eggs can then be implanted in the womb at some future date, when chemotherapy is completed. This IVF technology is not always successful, but many women have had successful pregnancies by this method after chemotherapy. There is no evidence that the IVF process is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, or that it may exacerbate breast cancer recurrence. Usually it involves a slight delay in the commencement of adjuvant chemotherapy, but this is seldom of medical significance. Symptoms of early menopause may become con fused with the side-effects of chemotherapy. These include mood disturbance, weight gain and hot flushes. These are dealt with in the section on Menopause and its Management. | Beating Nausea | Alopecia (Hair loss) | Low blood counts and Infection | Menstrual changes and Infertility | Bad taste 'Dysgeusia' | Mouth Soreness and Ulceration | Indigestion and Heartburn | Changes in Mental Function | Nose Bleeds | Bad smells | Diarrhoea | Anaemia | Fatigue | Depression | | What's New | FAQ Page | Living with chemotherapy | Dietary Advice | Exercise | The Flu Vaccine | Insomnia | Marijuana | Alternative Medicine | Managing Menopause | Advice to Carers | Breast Cancer | Pain | Useful Tips | Chemotherapy: The What and How | MRI Screening | | Your Cancer Information | | Return Home | New Patients | Services and Clinics | Useful Links | Contact Us | Download Page | Cancer Information | |
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