Introduction
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Gynecologic cancers, or cancers of the reproductive tract have the most chance of causing direct effects on fertility. Treatment of many gynecologic cancers often require removal of the organs needed for having a baby such as removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes or uterus. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may also stop ovarian function either temporarily (or sometimes permanently) with chemotherapy or permanently with radiation therapy. Loss of reproductive choice, or the ability to have children can be devastating to a woman and her family. Recent advances have led to some options of fertility-sparing treatment for some patients with gynecologic cancer. But fertility concerns go beyond the impact of cancer treatment. There is also a lot of worry about the link between infertility or its treatment and the risk of future gynecologic cancer. And one of the most difficult issues of fertility happens when a pregnancy occurs and a gynecologic cancer is diagnosed during that pregnancy. Read further for more information regarding fertility and gynecologic cancer.