There are several people you may see to discuss fertility, including:
| cancer specialist | may be a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, gynaecological oncologist, surgeon or haematologist; will discuss possible impacts on fertility before treatment begins and refer you to fertility specialists if necessary |
| fertility specialist | diagnoses, treats and manages infertility and reproductive hormonal disorders; may be an obstetrician, gynaecologist, reproductive endocrinologist or urologist |
| paediatric gynaecologist, endocrinologist, surgeon | doctors who specialise in fertility care of children with cancer |
| fertility counsellor | provides support and advice for people who are experiencing fertility issues |
| genetic counsellor | provides advice for people with a strong family history of cancer or a genetic condition linked to cancer |
| urologist/andrologist | diagnoses and treats diseases of the urinary system and the male reproductive system |
Let the fertility clinic or specialist know that you are having treatment for cancer so that they give you an appointment as soon as possible. Your cancer care team may also be able to help you get an appointment quickly.
During the appointment, the fertility specialist will go through the options available to you. Your cancer specialist will make suggestions and together you can decide what works with your cancer treatment plan.
If you have a partner, try to attend appointments together and include them in the decision-making process. You may also wish to bring a family member or friend for support.
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Additional resources
Dr Ying Li, Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, RPA Fertility Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW; Dr Antoinette Anazodo, Paediatric and Adolescent Oncologist, Sydney Children’s Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW, and Lead Clinician for Youth Cancer NSW/ACT; Paul Baden, Consumer; Dawn Bedwell, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Queensland; Maurice Edwards, Special Counsel, Watts McCray Lawyers, NSW; Helena Green, Clinical Sexologist and Counsellor, InSync for Life, WA; Dr Michelle Peate, Program Leader, Psychosocial Health and Wellbeing Research (emPoWeR) Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, The University of Melbourne, VIC; A/Prof Kate Stern, Gynaecologist and Reproductive Endocrinologist and Head, Fertility Preservation Service, Royal Women’s Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, VIC; Prof Jane Ussher, Chair, Women’s Health Psychology, Translational Health Resea ch Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, NSW; Renee Van Den Bosch, Consumer.
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