Cervical cancer rates in the United States have dropped since the development of the Papanicolaou test, but in 2010, over 12,000 new diagnoses were made, states the National Cancer Institute. Treatments are available, but many treatments can impact fertility. If you have been given a diagnosis of cervical cancer, prior to starting treatment, talk with your oncologist about your fertility concerns and what can be done to help make childbearing possible for you.
Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is cancer of the lower part of the uterus, called the cervix. Infection with the human papillomavirus is one of the main risk factors for developing cervical cancer, and regular screening with Pap smears can help detect cervical cancer in its early stages, when it is most treatable. Treatment is based on the stage and extent of the disease and may include hysterectomy, fertility-sparing procedures like trachelectomy, radiation and chemotherapy. If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer and are interested in preserving your fertility, talk with your doctor about your treatment options and the risks to future childbearing.
Hysterectomy and Trachelectomy
Some women with cervical cancer may need a hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus, in which case, childbearing would not be possible. But for some women, a radical trachelectomy may be an option. This is a new, fertility-sparing procedure that removes the cervix, adjacent tissue, pelvic lymph nodes and part of the vagina, and then connects the uterus to the vagina, says the Northeast Georgia Health System. Trachelectomy is not appropriate for all women with cervical cancer, but for those women for whom it is appropriate, this is a way to preserve fertility and allow them to bear children. Talk with your oncologist about whether this is a treatment option for you.
Cervical Cerclage
Some women with cervical cancer may have a loop electrosurgical excision procedure or a cone biopsy. These procedures removal of the cancerous tissue of the cervix. Depending on the amount of tissue removed, this may cause a weakened, or incompetent, cervix, making cervical cerclage necessary to ensure the cervix does not open too early during the pregnancy and cause preterm labor or delivery. Cerclage is a surgical procedure in which the cervix is sewn shut during pregnancy. The American Pregnancy Association states that this is best done during the third month of pregnancy; the stitch is usually removed around the 37th week of pregnancy.
Considerations
If you have had cervical cancer and still have your uterus, talk with your doctor about the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth in your situation, depending on the treatment you may have had. If giving birth is not an option for you, other ways of becoming a mother include adoption or surrogacy. Freezing your eggs prior to treatment is another option. Your treatment team can go over the possibilities as well as the risks associated with each choice with you.
