Effects of radiotherapy

Both the ovaries and testis are sensitive to radiation and the damage seen depends on the field of treatment, total dose of radiation and the fractionation schedule. Radiation therapy is more damaging to the ovary than is chemotherapy and a single dose of radiation is more toxic than fractionated dose. The damage to ovarian function leads to a transient loss of the menstrual cycle and premature ovarian failure can be caused by as little as 2Gy radiation. High dose abdominal irradiation and total body irradiation for childhood cancers will impair uterine function growth and blood flow. Fertility can also be impaired by head irradiation and disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary–gonadal axis.