Is Immunotherapy Secretly Affecting Women’s Fertility? Discover the Surprising Facts Now!

Fertility preservation is quite essential for many young women and men who have cancer. This is true as most of one may require systemic therapy and immunotherapy cancer treatment. Most women might likely plan on postponing their childbearing either due to cultural or professional, cancer diagnosis, or any other personal reasons. In such a scenario, you need to understand that you are risking yourself with infertility issues. These infertility issues vary according to your age, complications from your primary cancer, and the type of immunotherapy treatment you are undergoing. 

There is Not Just One Immunotherapy Treatment! Decode the Types

Immunotherapy cancer treatment helps your body harness its immune system to target and kill cancerous cells effectively. Unlike other cells of your body, cancer cells do not die on their own. They undergo rapid division to form multiple clones of themselves. These abnormal cells undergo frequent changes or mutations, thereby supporting their invasion into your immune system. 

Cancer immunotherapy medicines are designed to alert your immune system about the location of these mutated cells so that your immune system can destroy them. 

Immune checkpoint inhibitors 

The immune system can naturally attack invading pathogens like bacteria and viruses. Your immune system uses checkpoints called ‘breaks’ to not destroy its healthy cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are those chemicals that disrupt the breaks of your immune system. 

There are eight immune checkpoint inhibitors approved for cancer treatment:

• PD-1 (pembrolizumab 
• Nivolumab
• Cemiplimab
• Atezolizumab
• Nivolumab
• Durvalumab
• Ipilimumab, and
• Nivolumab vedotin-tftv). 

These are generally referred to as immunotherapy medicines and vital types of immunotherapy treatment. 

Modes of Administration of Immunotherapy Medicines 

The immunotherapy medications are administered based on specific medication selection and recommendation. The standard routes of administration are as follows:

• Oral: The doctor will prescribe oral capsules or tablets.
• Intravenous: The physician may even suggest medicines to inject through your veins.
• Topical: Your doctor will prescribe you medicines like cream or lotion. 
• Intravesical: Immunotherapy medicines that are applied through your bladder are also recommended. 

Adoptive Cell Therapies 

These are advanced immunotherapy cancer treatment therapies. Here, your body cells are removed and either boosted in their counts or transformed in the labs so that they can dig in more cancerous cells and kill them. A few of these are listed below - 

• Engineered T-cell Receptor Therapy (TCR) 
• Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocyte Therapy (TIL)
• CAR T-cell Therapy
• Natural Killer (NK) Therapy 
• Monoclonal Antibodies 

Your immune system makes antibodies to kill cancerous cells. A few of these monoclonal antibodies are - 

• Naked monoclonal antibodies 
• Conjugated monoclonal antibodies 
• Bispecific monoclonal antibodies

How Does Immunotherapy Cancer Treatment Affect Women's Fertility?

Immunotherapy cancer treatments are pretty important for your health. However, these may interfere with the functioning of your reproductive system, which regulates your body’s fertility. These changes to your fertility may either be temporary or permanent. Fertility in females can be easily diagnosed if:

• Ovaries lack healthy eggs 
• Hormones required for egg release are disrupted 
• There might be a tumor formed either on your ovaries or your uterus 
• Damages caused to parts of your reproductive system that prevent your eggs from their release, fertilization, and implantation 
• A fertilized egg does not grow within your uterus 
• Some abnormality might interfere with the growth of the fetus, resulting in a miscarriage 

The immunotherapy medicines attack your cancerous cells differently than your healthy cells. These immunotherapy side effects may either be short-lived or long-lasting. A few of the concerns observed are: 

A drug called bevacizumab might cause failure of your ovaries. There have been incidents reported when the ovaries never recovered. 

Few immunotherapy medicines, such as lenalidomide or thalidomide, might cause a grave danger of childbirth defects. 

Takeaway

It can be challenging for such women to cope with their fertility complications. Most doctors advise waiting some time after undergoing your immunotherapy sessions to avoid immunotherapy side effects. The waiting period depends on your age, the immunotherapy type you underwent, the dose of it, and other supportive treatments or care.