How can we find out our fertility status?
Related Questions
- What should we expect when we start trying for a pregnancy?
- How can we optimize our fertility as a couple?
- Is pregnancy safe after chemotherapy?
- Could we pass cancer on to our future child?
- What is ovarian reserve and how is it measured?
- What does it mean if my partner doesn't regain a menstrual cycle after treatment?
- How is a man's fertility measured?
Before assuming that your partner has lost fertility due to treatment or that you must now pursue alternative reproductive methods, it’s important for your partner to find out his or her actual fertility status. In addition, you should plan to have your own fertility status measured.
WOMEN
There are certain ways to assess the impact of cancer treatment upon a woman’s fertility. The most common sign of fertility is the return of menstrual cycles once treatment has been completed. If the cycles return, it is a good sign, but does not guarantee that fertility has returned to normal.
The ovarian reserve refers to the ability of the ovaries to respond to hormones and to the quality and number of eggs in the ovary at any given time in a woman’s life. The ovarian reserve is an important measure of a woman’s ability to become pregnant.
While there are no precise tests to measure a woman’s ovarian reserve, women can undergo blood tests that measure hormone levels in the bloodstream. These tests can provide more clues about the impact of the woman's treatment on fertility status and ovarian reserve.
The most common hormone measured is FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), but levels of other hormones like inhibin B and AMH may also provide useful information about the ovarian reserve.
MEN
For a man who has completed cancer treatment, there is a wide variation in the length of time it takes to return to normal levels of sperm production. For some men, it may occur within a year; for others, it may take up to 10 years or even longer. As difficult as waiting may be, it’s important for you and your partner to be patient.
A man’s fertility can be measured in a number of ways, but the ultimate measure is his ability to achieve a pregnancy with his partner.
If a couple is having trouble conceiving, a fertility specialist can help by testing a man’s sperm levels, motility, appearance, and shape, as well as measuring hormone levels (testosterone and FSH). These hormones can reveal how well the testicles are functioning to produce sperm.