Possible late effects after cancer treatment are varied and very much dependent on your diagnosis and specific treatment you have received.

Cancer treatments can affect your fertility in different ways.

Ovaries can be affected by some types of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or hormone treatment, damaging your eggs. This can lead to early menopause. Treatment on the womb (uterus) or vagina can also cause fertility problems.

Sperm production can be reduced or stopped by some kinds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This may be temporary, but for some it is permanent.

You may have had the opportunity to preserve your fertility through sperm storage or through egg harvesting or storage of ovarian tissue before treatment started, this is not always possible for a number of reasons.

If you haven’t already chosen to follow the process of checking your fertility status after treatment, you can do so at any time beyond 1 year post treatment.  

 If you had the opportunity to provide a semen sample at diagnosis, you can contact the same service yourself to self-refer for a post treatment semen analysis. If you didn’t use fertility services at diagnosis or have moved away, your GP can refer you to your local fertility service.

If you were referred to fertility services for egg harvesting or ovarian tissue storage at diagnosis and you would like to check your fertility status, your GP can refer you back into fertility the service. Or if this option was not possible for you at diagnosis, your GP can refer you to your local fertility service who will take specific bloods that indicate your fertility status post treatment..

 Infertility caused by cancer treatment can be temporary, a large proportion of people who have cancer treatments go on to have children.

We understand that people identify differently and, for some, fertility could be a triggering subject.

Sometimes how you feel about your sexuality or gender identity can be affected by a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Or maybe your cancer experience has been more challenging due to body image concerns or your gender affirming care has been affected by your cancer treatment.

However you identify, your GP can refer you to fertility services to discuss your individual fertility needs.

Or for online support Outpatients is the UK’s only cancer and LGBTQIA charity, led by the LGBTQIA community, Outpatients provides support through peer services, advocacy and information for patients throughout treatment and beyond. 

OUTpatients - LGBTIQ+ Cancer Charity

For patients who are transgender or non binary? 

https://www.wearetransplus.co.uk/uk-cancer-and-transition-service/

If you are interested to join 'Shine LGBTQIA WhatsApp group' Follow this link 

lgbtqi - Cancer support charity for young people - Shine (shinecancersupport.org)