Effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on ovarian function in young women with breast cancer

ABSTRACT

In the present study the ovarian function in 32 premenopausal women treated with adjuvant chemotherapy for carcinoma of the breast was evaluated. All patients answered a series of questions about their menstrual cycle and fertility before, during and after chemotherapy. Thereafter, they were subjected to full gynecologic examination and hormonal assays. While receiving chemotherapy, the majority of patients [72%] maintained regular periods. Moreover, 56% of those who developed amenorrhoea during chemotherapy restored regular cycles after a median period of 4 months. After a median period of 23 months, 17 patients [53%] had regular periods without any sexual or gynecologic problems. two patients conceived after 14 and 19 months after the last cycle of chemotherapy. The amenorrhoea group had high gonadotrophin levels and low estradiol levels consistent with ovarian failure as the cause of amenorrhoea in these patients. Patients with regular menses had significantly lower median gonadotrophin levels and a higher median estradiol level [P< 0.001]