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How to be certain no longer fertile?

Page last modified on: September 23, 2008
Question from Website Question: How can I be certain that I am no longer fertile? I have not had a menstrual cycle since September 2003.
Answers —Kutluk Oktay, M.D.: You should see a reproductive endocrinologist in your area to have your FSH levels measured, and have an ultrasound so they can see your ovaries to determine if there is any egg loss taking place. The main concern here is whether chemotherapy resulted in early menopause.
Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: Each one of us has had quite a few women in our practice that may stop menstruating for one or two years, and then resume menstruation. But as Dr. Oktay says, the number of additional years that menstruation will continue is likely to be less than normal. That means that even if you do resume menstruating, you may not menstruate as long as you would have, had you not had the chemotherapy.
Kutluk Oktay, M.D.: Also, some women may resume menstruation, but not be regular. Some of the bleeding might be from the endometrium (lining of the uterus) due to the effects of tamoxifen. So what you perceive as menstruation may be from other sources. If menstruation resumes after a long period of time, you should have a gynecological exam to make sure there are no other causes of bleeding.

On Wednesday, August 18, 2004, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Pregnancy and Fertility Issues. Kutluk Oktay, M.D., Leslie Schover, Ph.D., and moderator Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about pregnancy and fertility before, during, and after breast cancer treatment, as well as the options of adoption and gestational carriers (surrogate mothers).

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Kutluk Oktay, M.D.Kutluk Oktay, M.D. is a professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the director of the Division of Reproductive Medicine & Infertility at New York Medical College.

Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D.Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D. is a renowned psychologist with a special interest in helping people resolve or manage their sexual problems, especially those problems connected with a chronic illness such as cancer.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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