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Fighting for Fertility During Serious Health Issues
From Tragedy to Triumph
By Teri Brown
Beck cringed at the thought of being 24, single, infertile and a cancer survivor. She realized the only thing she had any control over was infertility, and she decided she couldn't sit back without taking precautionary fertility preservation measures. After much research, she found that freezing her unfertilized eggs (oocyte cryopreservation) was indeed an option. In spite of the expense and the added medical procedures to an already full schedule (radiation treatments, doctor appointments, etc.) Beck decided to go ahead with the procedure.
"Adding fertility preservation to the list was daunting, but I did not see it as a choice," says Beck.
"Many patients call us complaining about their friends, family and health care professionals' reactions to their concern over fertility," Beck says. "Many people feel like I did – it is worse than the cancer; however, their support network is telling them to be thankful they are alive and move on. It is hard not to be angry, overwhelmed and very isolated."
Radiation and chemotherapy are not the only health issues that can affect fertility. According to Dr. Mark Leondires, medical director of the Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine in Connecticut, any operation of the abdomen runs the potential of damaging the very fragile fallopian tubes.
"This would include surgery for an appendix or ovarian cyst," Dr. Leondires says. "A pelvic infection in the past could damage the fallopian tubes, as well."
Any traumatic abdominal injury that led to peritonitis or bleeding in the abdomen could damage the fallopian tubes. Cancer with treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy can also cause damage to the ovaries or fallopian tubes.
Want to see more?
- When Life Is a Pain: The Facts on Endometriosis
- Fertile Hope: Cancer Patients and Fertility
- Fertility and Disabilities: A Profile of Dr. Mitchell S. Tepper
- Join the discussion on our Family.com community!
- Pregnancy After Breast Cancer: Short Stories About Pregnancy
- Pregnancy After Breast Cancer: One Woman's Experience
- The Price of Parenthood: 4 Steps to Financing Fertility
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