Pregnancy and ovarian stimulation in the patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Background: Total 19% of patients diagnosed with breast cancer are younger than 50 years. Many of these patients will have postponed pregnancy into later life and many clinicians, who take care of these patients with mutations in tumor-suppressor genes, such as BRCA2, BRCA1, CHEK2, and others, recommend that it is better not to have a child than take the risk of developing a relapse. However, this recommendation can significantly reduce quality of life. Aim: The purpose of this article was to answer the most common questions that clinicians are confronted with when dealing with breast cancer patients who express a desire to have a child later in life. Is gravidity affected by breast carcinoma treatment? How does chemotherapy compromise my child-bearing potential? Can I undergo some of the methods of assisted reproduction? Is it possible to preserve my fertility before the start of oncological treatment? Conclusions: The results of meta-analysis have shown that pregnancy after the end of breast carcinoma treatment is safe. However, chemotherapy reduces fertility. Safe stimulation protocols that do not raise the risk of relapse and that can be offered during the course of treatment are available.