Kids who have transplant may have fertility problems later
Important points
Doctors can help increase chances of future parenthood
Blood or marrow transplant helps kids who have leukemia, severe sickle cell disease, and other diseases. But the medicines and radiation used for transplant can affect the uterus, ovaries, and testes. Unless steps are taken to preserve fertility, many children and teens who get transplant have difficulty becoming parents when they grow up.
Doctors from the US and European Union teamed up to solve this problem. They say that before transplant, children and teens should receive:
- A personal assessment of their risk of infertility
- Options to preserve their fertility
- Information about harms and effectiveness of fertility treatments
- Emotional support and counseling for themselves and their parents
Ways to preserve fertility
Children who have not reached puberty may have surgery to remove and freeze part of the ovaries or testes. There is not much data on how well this works.
Older children and teens may freeze sperm or eggs, which is a well-known treatment.
Paying for fertility preservation
Financial coverage for fertility preservation varies by country and by state in the US. NMDP, a nonprofit group, can help patients navigate finances and insurance.
Keep in mind
Thinking about future parenthood is hard, especially when you’re young and sick. Ask your care team about counseling and emotional support.
This plain-language summary was written by Jennifer Motl at the Medical College of Wisconsin and reviewed by an author of the full article. © 2026 by CIBMTR, license CC BY-SA 4.0.
Learn more about
Fertility after being diagnosed, at NMDP.org
More study summaries, at CIBMTR.org
NMDP Patient Support Center, at NMDP.org or 1 (888) 999-6743
Source
Jarisch A, Rotz SJ, Cattoni A, et al. Fertility Preservation in 2026: Current Landscape in Europe and the United States for Children and Adolescents Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation - Recommendations on Behalf of the Westhafen Intercontinental Group. Transplant Cell Ther. 2026 Feb 17:S2666-6367(26)00147-8. Epub ahead of print. PMC13192477. doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2026.02.044.
About this research summary
CIBMTR® (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research®) thanks study participants. This information is provided on behalf of the Consumer Advocacy Committee of CIBMTR. CIBMTR is a research collaboration between the Medical College of Wisconsin and NMDP.