Cancer treatments and fertility challenges

Elaine Gordon, PhD Fertility Specialist, shares advice for women on the effect that cancer treatment can have on increasing fertility challenges
Fertility Challenges After Cancer Treatments - Kids In The House
KidsInTheHouse the Ultimate Parenting Resource
Kids in the House Tour

Cancer treatments and fertility challenges

Comment
49
Unlike
49
Transcription: 
Cancer treatment is incredibly draining, both emotionally and physically. And having to also deal with one's future fertility brings another side to the whole issue. But it also brings a positive side. With cancer treatment, you're looking at your fear, your concern, are you gonna make it, are you gonna survive? But when you get to look at the fertility piece of it, you're really looking positively toward your future, the possibility of still having children and growing a family. So I think in some ways it can balance out the difficulty and the challenges of the treatment process with how to move forward in your life in the future.

Elaine Gordon, PhD Fertility Specialist, shares advice for women on the effect that cancer treatment can have on increasing fertility challenges

Transcript

Expert Bio

More from Expert

Elaine Gordon, PhD

Fertility Specialist

Elaine Gordon is a Clinical Psychologist with a specialty in infertility, child development, reproductive medicine, and third party family building.  Besides her role as a therapist and group facilitator working with patients struggling with infertility related issues, she lectures on various topics surrounding the psychological and ethical issues of contemporary family building. Dr. Gordon is the author of Mommy, Did I grow in your Tummy? Where Many Babies Come From a children’s book dedicated to explaining a child’s unique reproductive beginnings whether it be IVF, egg donation, sperm donation, surrogacy or adoption.

Her professional associations include The American Psychological Association, The American Society for Reproductive Medicine and The American Fertility Association. She has served, as the educational chair for the Psychological Special Interest Group of the ASRM, is a member of the educational committee of ASRM.  She has served on various committees regarding many aspects of reproductive medicine. Dr. Gordon’s clinical work involves individual therapy, group process for couples and individuals, staff training for programs involved in reproductive medicine and third party screening and evaluations for all participants.

Dr. Gordon is well versed in both the medical and psychological aspects of reproductive medicine utilizing third parties. Her involvement in egg donation and surrogacy programs has stimulated an interest in the issues surrounding secrecy and disclosure in third party parenting. Related to the disclosure/nondisclosure issue is the need to assess the advantages and disadvantages of open versus closed donation policies. She lectures on disclosure policies and how you talk to children about non-traditional family building with the focus being the best interest of the child. 

Throughout her career as a psychologist she has become increasingly concerned about the ethical and moral dilemmas inherent in growing field of reproductive medicine. She has co-authored a chapter entitled "Legal and Ethical Aspects of Infertility Counseling" in the textbook Infertility Counseling: A Comprehensive Handbook for Clinicians. Dr. Gordon is currently involved in several research projects investigating the psychological implication of using egg and or sperm donation as a means of building families. She continues to work with other professionals in establishing a ‘standard of care” policy for the infertility patient and third party participants.

More Parenting Videos from Elaine Gordon, PhD >
Enter your email to
download & subscribe
to our newsletter