Review: Influence of Radiation on Female Fertility and Pregnancy

Radiations made up of non-ionizing and ionizing radiations, this classification is based on the ionizing power and the energy of radiations. In developed and developing communities, people are continually exposed to radiations which are generated from variety sources that are naturally occurring or producing by human. The purpose of this study is to review accessible information on the influence of radiation on female fertility and to discuss the options for fertility preservation. Radiation exposure can result in impairment of tissue integrity and sometimes, leading to organs dysfunction, the impact of radiations on organs depends on site of irradiation, patient age and total radiation dose. Female patients who are treated with radiation have an increased rate of uterine dysfunction, ovaries dysfunction, impaired fertility, incidence of pregnancy complications, premature birth and miscarriage. Pre-pubertal uterus is more vulnerable to the effect of radiation, compared with the pubertal uterus due to arising ovarian estrogen production and uterus enlarges. To reduce the effects of radiations on female reproductive organ, fertility preservation procedures such as ovarian transposition, reproductive gland protection and oocyte cryopreservation should be carried out before and/or during radiotherapy.