Medical Oncologist
Sunitinib and reproduction
Fertility, Pregnancy and Contraception — on Sunitinib
Sunitinib can harm a developing baby based on animal studies and its mechanism of action. Contraception is required during treatment and for 4 weeks after the last dose — whether you are the patient or their partner.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Contraception is required — Effective contraception must be used throughout treatment and for 4 weeks after the last dose.
- This applies to male patients too — Sunitinib can be present in semen, so male patients also need contraception to protect their partners.
- Fertility preservation has a deadline — Egg freezing or sperm banking can only happen before treatment starts. Ask at your first appointment.
- Pregnancy during treatment needs same-day contact — If pregnancy occurs at any point during treatment, tell your oncologist the same day.
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Sunitinib causes fetal harm based on animal studies and its mechanism of action. If you are female and able to become pregnant, or male with a partner who could become pregnant, effective contraception is required during treatment and for 4 weeks after the last dose. Discuss pregnancy plans with your oncologist before starting.
Is it safe to try for a baby while taking sunitinib?
Sunitinib is not safe during pregnancy. It blocks the same growth signals that help a placenta form and a baby's blood vessels develop. Animal studies showed fetal harm at doses within the range used to treat people.
If you are a female patient who could become pregnant, effective contraception is required throughout your entire treatment period and for 4 weeks after your last dose. The same 4-week waiting period applies before you can safely restart breastfeeding.
If you are a male patient, sunitinib can be present in semen. Contraception is required during treatment and for 4 weeks after the last dose to protect any partner who could become pregnant.
What do I need to do about contraception while on sunitinib?
- Before your first dose: arrange effective contraceptionDo not start treatment without contraception already in place. This applies to male and female patients.
- Before your first dose: discuss fertility preservationEgg freezing or sperm banking is only possible before treatment starts. Ask at your first oncology appointment if having children later matters to you.
- During treatment: use contraception even on rest weeksSunitinib is typically given in cycles with break weeks. Contraception is required throughout, not only on the days you take the drug.
- During treatment: report a pregnancy the same dayIf you or your partner becomes pregnant at any point, contact your oncologist immediately — not at your next scheduled appointment.
- After your last dose: continue contraception for 4 more weeksThis washout period allows sunitinib and its active metabolite to clear from your body before conception is considered safe.
- If breastfeeding: wait 4 weeks after your last dose before resumingSunitinib passes into breast milk in animal studies. The 4-week period applies before breastfeeding can restart.
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Are the rules the same for female and male patients?
| Female patient | Male patient | |
|---|---|---|
| Contraception during treatment | Required throughout, including rest weeks between cycles | Required — sunitinib is present in semen and can reach a partner |
| Contraception after last dose | Required for 4 weeks | Required for 4 weeks |
| Before trying to conceive | Wait 4 weeks after the last dose | Wait 4 weeks after the last dose |
| Fertility preservation option | Egg freezing before starting treatment | Sperm banking before starting treatment |
| If pregnancy occurs | Contact your oncologist the same day | Contact your oncologist if your partner becomes pregnant |
| Breastfeeding | Not during treatment; wait 4 weeks after the last dose before resuming | Not applicable |
Did you know?
The 4-week washout period reflects the time needed for both sunitinib and its active metabolite — which stays in the body longer than the parent drug — to clear sufficiently before conception.
The clock starts from your last dose, not the end of your last treatment cycle.
Source: Sutent (sunitinib) prescribing information, Pfizer
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How long after stopping sunitinib can I try to get pregnant?
Wait at least 4 weeks from your last dose before trying to conceive. This is the washout period stated in the prescribing information, based on the time needed for sunitinib and its active metabolite to clear from the body. Your oncologist will advise on timing given your specific circumstances — including how long you were on treatment and your current health.
Can I bank eggs or sperm before starting sunitinib?
Yes, and this is worth raising at your very first oncology appointment if having children later matters to you. Egg freezing and sperm banking are only possible before treatment begins. Once sunitinib is started, the window for preservation may be closed. Your oncologist can refer you urgently to a fertility specialist if needed.
I found out I am pregnant while on sunitinib. What should I do?
Contact your oncologist the same day — do not wait for your next scheduled appointment. Your team will advise on next steps, which depend on how far along the pregnancy is, the current state of your cancer, and what treatment options exist. Do not make any decision about continuing or stopping treatment without first speaking to your oncologist.
Will sunitinib permanently affect my ability to have children?
Sunitinib may affect fertility based on animal data, but whether this is reversible in people is not reliably established. Some patients regain normal fertility after treatment ends; others do not. We do not yet have consistent data to predict who will be affected. This is the clearest reason to discuss egg or sperm banking before starting — not because it will definitely be needed, but because the option is gone once treatment begins.
My partner takes sunitinib. Do I need contraception if I could become pregnant?
Yes. Sunitinib is present in the semen of male patients on the drug. Unprotected sex during treatment or in the 4 weeks after the last dose can expose you to the drug. Effective contraception is required during this period. If you are trying to conceive, wait until 4 weeks after your partner's last dose before stopping contraception.
Can I breastfeed while taking sunitinib?
No. Sunitinib is present in the milk of animals given the drug during lactation. It is not known whether this occurs at the same levels in humans, but the potential risk to a baby means breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment. Wait 4 weeks after your last dose before resuming. If you are unsure, ask your oncologist before restarting.