For many women, the dream of motherhood is deeply personal. But when faced with an ovarian cancer diagnosis, that dream can suddenly feel uncertain. Ovarian cancer is often called a silent threat—one that not only affects a woman’s health but can also impact her fertility and reproductive choices.
At this crossroads, knowledge is power. Understanding how ovarian cancer affects fertility, recognizing early warning signs, and exploring fertility preservation options can help women make informed decisions about their health and future.
How Ovarian Cancer Affects Fertility
Ovarian cancer treatment is often aggressive, as the priority is always saving a woman’s life. The impact on fertility depends on the stage of the disease, the type of treatment required, and how early the cancer is detected.
Most ovarian cancer treatments involve surgery to remove one or both ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and sometimes the uterus (hysterectomy). If both ovaries are removed, a woman will no longer be able to conceive naturally. Chemotherapy and radiation—common post-surgical treatments—can also damage the ovaries, reducing or completely eliminating fertility.
While the primary focus is on fighting cancer, it is completely natural to feel heartbroken about the potential loss of fertility. This is why discussing fertility preservation before starting treatment is crucial for women who still wish to have children in the future.
Recognizing the Warning Signs
Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to detect early because its symptoms are often vague and easily mistaken for common digestive or menstrual issues. However, persistent symptoms should never be ignored. Some key warning signs include:
- • Persistent bloating that doesn’t go away
- • Pelvic or abdominal pain
- • Changes in appetite, such as feeling full quickly or unexplained weight loss
- • Irregular periods or sudden changes in menstrual cycles
- • Frequent urination or changes in bowel habits
Women with a family history of ovarian or breast cancer are at a higher risk, particularly if they carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. If you have a family history of these cancers, genetic testing and counselling can help assess your risk and guide preventive decisions.
Fertility Preservation Options
A cancer diagnosis doesn’t automatically mean the end of your fertility journey. Depending on the stage of ovarian cancer and treatment plan, several fertility preservation options may be available:
Egg or Embryo Freezing
Before starting chemotherapy, women can undergo ovarian stimulation to harvest eggs. These eggs can either be frozen for future use or fertilized with sperm to create embryos, which can also be frozen for later implantation.
Fertility-Sparing Surgery
For women with early-stage ovarian cancer in only one ovary, doctors may be able to remove just the affected ovary while preserving the other. This approach helps maintain hormone production and the ability to conceive naturally.
Ovarian Tissue Freezing
A newer and promising technique, this procedure involves removing and freezing ovarian tissue before cancer treatment. After recovery, the tissue can be reimplanted to restore ovarian function and natural fertility.
Surrogacy and Egg Donation
For women who lose their fertility due to cancer treatment, surrogacy with a previously frozen embryo or donor egg can still offer the chance to experience parenthood.
It is essential to consult a fertility specialist as soon as possible after diagnosis to explore these options and make an informed choice.
The Importance of Early Detection
Early detection of ovarian cancer significantly improves survival rates and also increases the chances of preserving fertility. Routine gynecological checkups and screening tests are essential, particularly for high-risk women. Some of the key diagnostic tools include:
- • Pelvic exams – Checking for abnormalities in the ovaries and uterus
- • Transvaginal ultrasound – Imaging to detect ovarian masses
- • CA-125 blood test – Measuring a protein that can be elevated in ovarian cancer
If you experience persistent symptoms, trust your instincts—seek medical attention. Too often, ovarian cancer is diagnosed late because symptoms are dismissed as minor issues. Your health and future are worth fighting for.
Hope Beyond Cancer
A cancer diagnosis can feel like it’s stealing your future, but advances in medicine and fertility preservation are giving women more options than ever before. Many survivors have gone on to have children through various fertility-preserving treatments, egg donation, and surrogacy.
At Zanish Cancer Hospital, we are committed to providing compassionate care, helping women navigate their journey with ovarian cancer while preserving their hope for motherhood. If you or a loved one are facing this challenge, know that you are not alone—there is support, guidance, and hope.