Can women get pregnant after cancer treatment?

Sometimes. According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer treatments may lower a woman's fertility or make it harder to become pregnant or carry a pregnancy, and these changes may be temporary or permanent. Whether pregnancy is possible later depends on the specific treatment, the dose and length of treatment, the woman's age, the type of cancer, and other factors.

Some treatments can cause primary ovarian insufficiency, when the ovaries stop working properly. With this condition, some women still ovulate and have occasional periods, while others have permanent damage and early menopause.

Because this is so individual, the National Cancer Institute lists it as a question to ask your doctor after treatment: what are the chances that people who have this treatment become pregnant afterward, and if changes are temporary, how long might fertility take to return. It also suggests asking whether birth control should be used after treatment and for how long.

Your care team can give you the most accurate picture for your situation, and a fertility specialist can explain your options, including any fertility preservation done before treatment. Follow-up care can also help protect your long-term health.