Guide | How Can Breast Cancer Patients Preserve Fertility? Egg Freezing May Be Key
Breast cancer treatment often leaves young women facing a difficult choice between treating the disease and preserving fertility. A recent study, however, found that most patients with early-stage breast cancer can still become pregnant and give birth after treatment, with higher success rates among those who froze eggs or embryos beforehand.
Presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the study followed nearly 200 breast cancer patients under age 40 who hoped to become pregnant after treatment. Results showed that 73% became pregnant and 65% gave birth, offering hope to many patients concerned about fertility.
How Does Breast Cancer Treatment Affect Fertility?
Breast cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy may affect ovarian function, reduce fertility, and cause some women to enter menopause early. Pregnancy is not possible during treatment, and patients must also wait for a period after chemotherapy before trying to conceive.
"Breast cancer patients are deeply concerned about their future fertility. This study is both important and encouraging for them."
—Dr. Marla Lipsyc-Sharf, breast oncology specialist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Many patients also worry that pregnancy may affect cancer recurrence or that they may pass inherited genes to their children. Research indicates that pregnancy does not affect survival in breast cancer patients, but reproductive planning still requires an individualized assessment.
Study Finds Frozen Eggs or Embryos May Improve Reproductive Success
The study followed patients with stage 0–III breast cancer for up to 11 years. Key findings included:
73% of patients became pregnant, and 65% gave birth.
28% underwent fertility preservation before treatment, such as egg or embryo freezing. Their reproductive success rate was significantly higher than that of patients who did not preserve fertility.
Cancer stage did not affect the likelihood of pregnancy or childbirth. Even patients with higher-stage disease (stage II–III) had relatively high pregnancy rates.
Pregnancy and birth rates declined with age. Younger patients had greater reproductive potential, making early fertility preservation particularly important.
Patients with greater financial resources were more likely to become pregnant, showing that affordability remains an important factor in access to assisted reproduction.
"This study further highlights access to fertility-preservation services for breast cancer patients. Many young women do not receive adequate fertility counseling at diagnosis, and that needs to change."
—Dr. Kimia Sorouri, study lead, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
How Can Breast Cancer Patients Preserve Fertility?
Experts recommend that breast cancer patients who want children consult a reproductive specialist as early as possible before treatment and consider the following options:
Egg or embryo freezing: currently the most effective fertility-preservation option for patients who have not had children but hope to do so in the future.
Ovarian suppression: medication is used to suppress ovarian function and reduce chemotherapy-related damage to eggs.
Delayed treatment (only in selected cases): when medically appropriate, some patients may choose to have a child before treatment.
Fertility preservation is not affordable for everyone. Egg or embryo freezing may cost up to $15,000 per cycle, and only 20% of young breast cancer patients use fertility-preservation measures, mainly because of financial pressure, limited access to care, and emotional stress.
Expert Recommendation: Fertility Counseling Should Be Part of Breast Cancer Care
Breast cancer patients often need to begin treatment soon after diagnosis, leaving a very short window for fertility decisions and adding emotional strain. Experts recommend discussing fertility at diagnosis and providing psychological support to help patients make informed decisions quickly.
"Fertility is often considered only after treatment, but it should actually be part of the discussion at diagnosis."
—Dr. Marla Lipsyc-Sharf
For breast cancer patients, treatment and fertility no longer have to be mutually exclusive. As fertility-preservation technology advances and policy support expands, more breast cancer survivors may have the opportunity to become parents.
Guide | How Can Breast Cancer Patients Preserve Fertility? Egg Freezing May Be Key
Guide | How Can Breast Cancer Patients Preserve Fertility? Egg Freezing May Be Key
Breast cancer treatment often leaves young women facing a difficult choice between treating the disease and preserving fertility. A recent study, however, found that most patients with early-stage breast cancer can still become pregnant and give birth after treatment, with higher success rates among those who froze eggs or embryos beforehand.
Presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the study followed nearly 200 breast cancer patients under age 40 who hoped to become pregnant after treatment. Results showed that 73% became pregnant and 65% gave birth, offering hope to many patients concerned about fertility.
How Does Breast Cancer Treatment Affect Fertility?
Breast cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy may affect ovarian function, reduce fertility, and cause some women to enter menopause early. Pregnancy is not possible during treatment, and patients must also wait for a period after chemotherapy before trying to conceive.
"Breast cancer patients are deeply concerned about their future fertility. This study is both important and encouraging for them."
—Dr. Marla Lipsyc-Sharf, breast oncology specialist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Many patients also worry that pregnancy may affect cancer recurrence or that they may pass inherited genes to their children. Research indicates that pregnancy does not affect survival in breast cancer patients, but reproductive planning still requires an individualized assessment.
Study Finds Frozen Eggs or Embryos May Improve Reproductive Success
The study followed patients with stage 0–III breast cancer for up to 11 years. Key findings included:
73% of patients became pregnant, and 65% gave birth.
28% underwent fertility preservation before treatment, such as egg or embryo freezing. Their reproductive success rate was significantly higher than that of patients who did not preserve fertility.
Cancer stage did not affect the likelihood of pregnancy or childbirth. Even patients with higher-stage disease (stage II–III) had relatively high pregnancy rates.
Pregnancy and birth rates declined with age. Younger patients had greater reproductive potential, making early fertility preservation particularly important.
Patients with greater financial resources were more likely to become pregnant, showing that affordability remains an important factor in access to assisted reproduction.
"This study further highlights access to fertility-preservation services for breast cancer patients. Many young women do not receive adequate fertility counseling at diagnosis, and that needs to change."
—Dr. Kimia Sorouri, study lead, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
How Can Breast Cancer Patients Preserve Fertility?
Experts recommend that breast cancer patients who want children consult a reproductive specialist as early as possible before treatment and consider the following options:
Egg or embryo freezing: currently the most effective fertility-preservation option for patients who have not had children but hope to do so in the future.
Ovarian suppression: medication is used to suppress ovarian function and reduce chemotherapy-related damage to eggs.
Delayed treatment (only in selected cases): when medically appropriate, some patients may choose to have a child before treatment.
Fertility preservation is not affordable for everyone. Egg or embryo freezing may cost up to $15,000 per cycle, and only 20% of young breast cancer patients use fertility-preservation measures, mainly because of financial pressure, limited access to care, and emotional stress.
Expert Recommendation: Fertility Counseling Should Be Part of Breast Cancer Care
Breast cancer patients often need to begin treatment soon after diagnosis, leaving a very short window for fertility decisions and adding emotional strain. Experts recommend discussing fertility at diagnosis and providing psychological support to help patients make informed decisions quickly.
"Fertility is often considered only after treatment, but it should actually be part of the discussion at diagnosis."
—Dr. Marla Lipsyc-Sharf
For breast cancer patients, treatment and fertility no longer have to be mutually exclusive. As fertility-preservation technology advances and policy support expands, more breast cancer survivors may have the opportunity to become parents.
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