Chemotherapy harms fertility of female cancer patients' grandkids
- 6 years ago
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — Chemotherapy can significantly harm the fertility of female cancer patients' children, new research has shown.
Researchers at the University of Utah found the offspring of women who had treatment before becoming pregnant had a 70 percent worse chance of having a child themselves, the Telegraph reported.
The effects of chemotherapy drugs has been well documented, but this is the first study to find a negative effect inherited by the next generation.
Scientists believe the chemotherapy medication may be altering the genetic expression of inherited germ line cells.
Male cancer patients did not pass on the same effect to their offspring, most likely because sperm constantly regenerates, while a woman has all her eggs at birth.
Women of reproductive age being treated for cancer are increasingly being encouraged to preserve their eggs cryogenically.
Researchers at the University of Utah found the offspring of women who had treatment before becoming pregnant had a 70 percent worse chance of having a child themselves, the Telegraph reported.
The effects of chemotherapy drugs has been well documented, but this is the first study to find a negative effect inherited by the next generation.
Scientists believe the chemotherapy medication may be altering the genetic expression of inherited germ line cells.
Male cancer patients did not pass on the same effect to their offspring, most likely because sperm constantly regenerates, while a woman has all her eggs at birth.
Women of reproductive age being treated for cancer are increasingly being encouraged to preserve their eggs cryogenically.