BRCA, fertility and family planning

Some BRCA risk-management options will affect your fertility. Any plans to start a family or have more children will probably be part of your decision-making around risk management options and the timing of these.

BRCA, ovarian cancer risk and fertility

• Risk-reducing surgery will involve removing your ovaries and fallopian tubes. Ovaries contain the eggs that develop into a baby. Without ovaries you will not be able to get pregnant naturally. 
• You can consider delaying surgery to allow you to try to get pregnant. You can also ask your team if there are any fertility preservation options open to you, such as freezing your eggs/IVF. 

BRCA1 alterations: Risk-reducing surgery is usually recommended by age 40. It may be considered from 35 years of age onwards if there is a strong family history of early onset ovarian cancer.

BRCA2 alterations: Surgery to remove the ovaries is recommended between the ages of 40 and 45.

If you think you might want children or your family isn’t complete, talk to your medical team about your options. These might include:

• Delaying risk-reducing surgery
• Fertility treatments
• Taking a break from medication and freezing your eggs 

Making choices around risk management and fertility can be extremely difficult. 

• You may feel you have to make a very difficult choice between your own health and your family plans. 
• If you are considering risk-reducing surgery or want to breastfeed, you might also feel under pressure to have children sooner than planned, to allow you to have the surgery by the recommended age. 
• You may also consider the risk to your children – if they might inherit the genetic alteration. 

• A child has a 1 in 2 (50%) chance of inheriting the BRCA alteration from a parent who has it. A BRCA alteration does not increase the risk of childhood cancers. 
• Once your child is over 18, they can choose to have a test to find out if they have inherited the altered BRCA gene or not. They do not have to have the test. 
• If a child inherits the BRCA alteration, surveillance/risk-reduction measures will not start for some time, as the risk is low in younger people. 

Help and support is available if you are dealing with infertility or making difficult decisions around BRCA risk management and family planning.

Support at the hospital

Ask your treating team if psycho-oncology services are available at your hospital.  Usually a psycho-oncology team includes psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and nurses.

Support from our cancer nurses

Call our Support Line on Freephone 1800 200 700 or call into a Daffodil Centre to talk to our cancer nurses.

Support from people with similar experiences

You might find it helpful to join an online community or BRCA support group.