A quarter of young women treated with chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer successfully gave birth within five years. Remarkably, most pregnancies occurred naturally, without relying on pre-treatment egg freezing. These findings come from a rigorous study by experts at Maastricht UMC+.
For women under 40 with early-stage breast cancer, chemotherapy is a standard recommendation. Yet, it poses risks to fertility and future family planning. Chemotherapy can impair ovarian function, though recovery is possible over time—not guaranteed. Since 2008, Maastricht UMC+ has offered a comprehensive fertility preservation program to support breast cancer patients pursuing parenthood post-treatment.
Promising Outcomes
The program facilitates informed discussions on fertility risks, options, and egg freezing. Results are encouraging: approximately 25% of participants delivered healthy babies within five years. Nearly all were natural conceptions, with a few using frozen eggs. Researchers tracked 118 women (average age 31) undergoing chemotherapy over seven years; 26 gave birth to 32 children, 30 via natural pregnancy.
Reassuring Support "It's reassuring to provide fertility support despite chemotherapy's potential impact on ovarian function," says Ingeborg Vriens, MD, medical oncologist at Maastricht UMC+. "These young women, amid life's challenges and cancer recovery, deserve a future with optimal quality of life—including family-building."
