Men should also consider birth control during treatment. Depending on the dose of radiation received, sperm production may be reduced or stopped during therapy. Sperm production may return to normal in 3 to 5 years or sterility may be permanent. Sperm banking prior to starting radiation therapy may be an option for men who wish to have children prior to starting radiotherapy. Freezing embryos prior to radiation or chemotherapy may be an alternative for women.
Many clinics specialize in cryonic storage.
This should be considered and done prior to treatment. It is especially important that teenagers and young adults be aware of these options. However the effects of treatment on fertility can be permanent and this may not sink in until it is too late. Depending on the radiation dose, most women who have radiation therapy to the pelvic area stop menstruating. A reduction in the exposure of radiation to the ovaries may be accomplished through a procedure called oophoropexy.