Cancer incidence has been increasing and affecting the younger population.
According to the statistics of the Health Promotion Administration over the years, the incidence of cancers has increased and tended to affect the younger population. Take breast cancer for example. There are more than 10,000 newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer in Taiwan each year. Among them, 10% were diagnosed at childbearing age (≦40 years old).
The reproductive function may be compromised by chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy drugs may induce irreversible damages to ovarian functions or spermatogenesis. There are approximately 70-80% of the patients whose ovaries have been severely damaged after chemotherapy, while approximately 10-30% of the patients have experienced amenorrhea after chemotherapy. As for men, the quantity or quality of sperm may be affected by cancer treatments.