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Cancer Treatment and the Ovary
Author(s) -
Cohen Laurie E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1429.023
Subject(s) - ovary , infertility , cancer , fertility , medicine , hormone , physiology , oncology , female infertility , gynecology , radiation therapy , ovarian cancer , endocrinology , biology , pregnancy , population , genetics , environmental health
Certain chemotherapeutic drugs (“alkylators”) and radiation therapy are toxic to the ovaries, leading to both loss of sex steroid hormone production and infertility. Higher doses and older age at treatment are both associated with greater damage. Even patients with spontaneous menstrual cycles have evidence of decreased ovarian potential. Adolescents who are treated for cancer with these agents should be counseled about future fertility risks.