The ASCO Educational Book is a collection of articles written by ASCO Annual Meeting speakers and oncology experts. Published annually, each volume highlights the most compelling research and developments across many different fields of cancer care.

Many treatments for cancer can temporarily or permanently affect a woman’s fertility, which is the ability to become pregnant. However, there are existing and emerging techniques that can be used to preserve a patient’s ability to have children.

In this podcast, Karen Lisa Smith, MD, MPH, discusses current methods of fertility preservation and their risks and benefits. Women who wish to become pregnant in the future should talk to their doctors, including a fertility specialist, before beginning cancer treatment. 

• How can cancer treatment affect a woman’s ability to become pregnant? [2:29]

• What are some current techniques used to help a woman preserve her fertility before beginning cancer treatment? [3:47]

• What are some new techniques for preserving fertility when treatment cannot be delayed? [6:35]

Dr. Smith is a medical oncologist at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital and assistant professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Was this podcast useful? Please subscribe, rate, and review Cancer.Net Podcasts on Apple Podcasts or Google Play. This prerecorded podcast can be listened to online or downloaded to your computer. A transcript is also available. For more information, visit the Cancer.Net podcast page.