Can patients with chronic myeloid leukemia have children?
Sep 23, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Feng
Introduction
In general, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder. Whether patients with chronic myeloid leukemia can have children should be determined based on specific disease conditions, including disease phase, treatment status, and overall health. If experiencing any discomfort or planning for pregnancy, it is recommended to seek timely medical advice from a specialist physician.
Generally, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder. Whether patients with CML can have children should be determined based on specific disease conditions, including disease phase, treatment status, and overall health. If experiencing any discomfort or planning pregnancy, it is recommended to seek timely medical advice from a specialist. Detailed analysis is as follows:
If a patient with CML is in the chronic phase, has achieved long-term disease stability through standardized treatment, maintains normal blood counts and bone marrow findings, has discontinued medications that may affect germ cells for a sufficient duration, and has good overall health without other severe underlying diseases, pregnancy may be considered under medical guidance after joint evaluation by hematologists and obstetricians. The entire process requires close monitoring of disease status to ensure safety during pregnancy.
If the patient is in the accelerated or blast phase, with uncontrolled disease, abnormal bone marrow hematopoietic function, or currently using medications known to have teratogenic risks to the fetus, and has poor overall health, pregnancy is not recommended. Attempting pregnancy under these conditions may worsen the disease and increase the risk of adverse fetal outcomes such as miscarriage and congenital malformations. Priority should be given to disease control, followed by re-evaluation once the patient's physical condition meets the necessary criteria.
Patients who wish to have children should communicate early with their attending physician to develop an individualized treatment and fertility plan. Strict adherence to prescribed medications during treatment is essential, avoiding self-adjustment of therapy. Enhanced multidisciplinary follow-up during pregnancy is required to closely monitor maternal and fetal health. Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, avoiding fatigue and infections, is also crucial to ensuring the safety of both mother and baby.
