• Blog
  • About
  • Partners
  • Contact
  • Fundraise
Give Now »
Young Survival Coalition logo
    • Learn
      • About Breast Cancer
        • Breast Cancer 101
        • Breast Cancer Statistics
        • Breast Cancer Risk Factors
        • FAQs
      • Living With Breast Cancer
        • Understanding Treatment
        • Quality of Life
        • Fertility and Family Planning
        • Practical Concerns
        • Clinical Trials
      • Metastatic Breast Cancer
        • Metastatic Breast Cancer Diagnosis
        • Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment
        • Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer
        • Metastatic Clinical Trial Search
        • Metastatic Breast Cancer Resources
      • Resources and Tools
        • Search for Resources
        • Audio/Video Library
        • Educational Materials
        • Partner Resources
      • Co-Survivors
        • Self-Care
        • How To Help
        • Co-Survivor
          Community
      • Research
        • Research Agenda
        • Position Papers
        • Metastatic Survey
      • En Español
    • Connect
      • Find Support Online
        • Virtual Hangouts
        • Private Facebook Groups
      • Meet In Person
        • Local Meetups
        • Conferences
      • Talk One-On-One
    • Get Involved
      • Volunteer
      • Attend A Conference
      • Be An Advocate
      • Fundraise or Host an Event
      • Ride in Tour de Pink
      • Pledge Your Birthday
      • Upcoming Events
      • #TitCheck BCA Campaign
    • Be Inspired
    • Donate
      • Make a Donation
      • Fundraise for YSC
      • All Ways to Give
Young Survival Coalition logo

Mobile Menu

Young Survival Coalition logo
  • Blog
  • About
  • Partners
  • Contact
  • Fundraise
  • Learn
    • About Breast Cancer
      • Breast Cancer 101
      • Breast Cancer Statistics
      • Breast Cancer Risk Factors
      • FAQs
    • Living With Breast Cancer
      • Understanding Treatment
      • Quality of Life
      • Fertility and Family Planning
      • Practical Concerns
      • Clinical Trials
    • Metastatic Breast Cancer
      • Metastatic Breast Cancer Diagnosis
      • Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment
      • Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer
      • Metastatic Clinical Trial Search
      • Metastatic Breast Cancer Resources
    • Resources and Tools
      • Search for Resources
      • Audio/Video Library
      • Educational Materials
      • Partner Resources
    • Co-Survivors
      • Self-Care
      • How To Help
      • Co-Survivor
        Community
    • Research
      • Research Agenda
      • Position Papers
      • Metastatic Survey
    • En Español
  • Connect
    • Find Support Online
      • Virtual Hangouts
      • Private Facebook Groups
    • Meet In Person
      • Local Meetups
      • Conferences
    • Talk One-On-One
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Attend A Conference
    • Be An Advocate
    • Fundraise or Host an Event
    • Ride in Tour de Pink
    • Pledge Your Birthday
    • Upcoming Events
    • #TitCheck BCA Campaign
  • Be Inspired
  • Donate
    • Make a Donation
    • Fundraise for YSC
    • All Ways to Give

Menu: Options After Treatment

  • Understanding Treatment
    • Breast Cancer Treatment
    • Breast Reconstruction
    • Post-Treatment Care
    • Understanding Pathology Results
    • Your Healthcare Team
  • Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer
    • MBC Treatment
    • Metastatic Clinical Trials
      • Metastatic Trial Search
    • MBC Organizations and Resources
  • Quality of Life
    • Managing Side Effects
      • Bone Health
      • Chemo Brain
      • Early Menopause
      • Fatigue
      • Lymphedema
      • Pain
    • Sex and Intimacy
    • Communicating with Children
    • Mental Health
    • Wellness
      • Nutrition
      • Stress Management
      • Weight and Exercise
    • Long-Term Survivorship
  • Fertility and Family Planning
    • Fertility Preservation
    • Options After Treatment
    • Other Family Planning Resources
    • Treatment Impact on Fertility
  • Practical Concerns
    • Careers
    • End of Life Planning
    • Financial Assistance
    • Health Insurance
  • Newly Diagnosed Navigator
  • Metastatic Navigator
  • Post-Treatment Navigator
  • Long Term Navigator
Share

Having Children After Breast Cancer Treatment

Having children after breast cancer treatment

If your healthcare team did not speak to you about fertility preservation, or if you did not take steps to preserve your fertility before breast cancer breast cancer treatment, you may still be able to conceive a child naturally. There are also other meaningful options for having children after breast cancer, like adopting a child or using a surrogate.

Your age, the condition of your eggs and other reproductive and treatment-related factors combine to affect your fertility after breast cancer.

A visit to a reproductive endocrinologist can provide information on your fertility options, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), where your eggs are retrieved, fertilized outside your body and later transferred back to your uterus where a fetus can develop.

If your doctor determines that you are infertile, there are several other options for motherhood, including:

Egg Donation

If your eggs have been damaged and are not viable to conceive a child, you may be able to use eggs donated by another woman. These eggs would be fertilized outside your body and transferred to your uterus, as with the IVF process.

Surrogate/Gestational Carrier

If you are physically unable to carry a child full-term, or it would pose too great a health risk, you may be able to have another woman carry and deliver a child for you. This woman could be a friend, family member or a stranger you compensate.

The woman is called a surrogate if sperm is injected into her (artificial insemination), and she is called a gestational carrier if an embryo is implanted.

Adoption

Adoption is the legal transfer of parental rights over a child from the birth parent to another. While it is possible for cancer survivors to adopt, there may be additional requirements such as providing your medical records or waiting a certain period of time after your cancer diagnosis before being allowed to adopt.

Laws on frozen eggs and embryos, donated eggs, surrogacy and adoption vary from state to state. Be sure to consult your doctor to determine what fertility options will be safest for you or a family attorney to discuss adoption options.

Having children after breast cancer is not impossible! Find family planning and adoption resources in our ResourceLink database.

Find Resources

Related Topics

Fertility Preservation

Fertility Preservation

Fertility preservation before treatment is an option for women who want to protect their ability to have genetically related children in the future.
Other Family Planning Resources

Other Family Planning Resources

Having children after breast cancer is not impossible! Find family planning and adoption resources here.
Treatment Impact on Fertility

Treatment Impact on Fertility

Chemotherapy, hormonal treatments, and targeted treatments may affect fertility differently. Surgery and radiation rarely affect fertility.

Search for Resources

Audio & Video Library

Educational Materials

Conferences

  • About YSC
  • FAQs
  • Careers
  • Media Center
  • Contact

Young Survival Coalition is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to all young breast cancer survivors and their co-survivor support networks. YSC's EIN is 13-4057685.


405 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor | New York, NY 10174 | phone: 877.972.1011 | fax: 646.257.3030

© 1998-2023 Young Survival Coalition. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | website design by efelle