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← Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer (PDQ®)

HEALTH PROFESSIONAL · SOURCE READING

Chemotherapy affecting ovarian function

Source: Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.

Source updated: April 14, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.

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Ovarian function may be impaired after treatment with combination chemotherapy that includes an alkylating agent and procarbazine. In general, girls maintain gonadal function at higher cumulative alkylating agent doses than do boys. Most female childhood cancer survivors who are treated with risk-adapted combination chemotherapy retain or recover ovarian function. However, the risk of acute ovarian failure and premature menopause is substantial if treatment includes combined-modality therapy with alkylating agent chemotherapy and abdominal or pelvic radiation therapy or dose-intensive alkylating agents for myeloablative conditioning before HSCT.[50-55]

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