What is it like to experience fertility preservation before undergoing cancer treatment?
Ovarian cancer is most frequent in post-menopausal women; however, it can also occur in young premenopausal women. Chemotherapy is frequently used when treating ovarian cancer and may cause extensive ovarian damage; therefore, preserving your fertility can be an easy step to prepare for a family one day. After diagnosis and cancer staging, IVF Canada fertility specialists address the possibility of infertility and offer fertility preservation options.
Fertility loss or infertility in women or men can be devastating. In female cancer treatments may damage or remove reproductive organs like your ovaries or uterus, damage nerves, or block hormones that are involved in fertility or conception.
Before you start ovarian cancer treatments, you can meet with your IVF Canada team and discuss your fertility preservation options. Our fertility specialists can go over treatment options to reduce the risk of fertility loss or to preserve your fertility.
Though there are several techniques available for fertility preservation in cancer patients, when dealing with ovarian cancer patients, oocyte and embryo cryopreservation are suitable
Freezing eggs, or cryopreservation, where eggs are removed from your ovaries, frozen, and preserved for fertilization later Embryo freezing or banking, where eggs are removed and fertilized in a lab with sperm to produce embryos that are frozen. There is a good possibility you may be able to get pregnant with these preserved eggs or embryos through procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF) or with a surrogate mother.
“Being able to retrieve and freeze eggs before chemotherapy gave me back a little bit of the control, I felt I was lacking. I had a sense of solace knowing I did everything I could to diminish at least that one long-term, damaging side effect.” Patient L.
When Patient L was diagnosed with uterine sarcoma, she felt that a lot of things were out of her control, including the fact that her cancer diagnosis meant she could not have more children. She took back control by taking steps to preserve her fertility.
“Despite being diagnosed with cancer my husband is still keen to have a baby”. Patient A
Oncofertility is a subfield that bridges oncology and reproductive research and explores options for the reproductive future of cancer patients. This newly interdisciplinary approach addresses the fertility future of women and men facing a specific diagnosis.
The field of oncofertility is still in its infancy and has made remarkable progress to support family-building in patients that have undergone or are currently undergoing cancer treatment.
IVF Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society have partnered to assist patients with their fertility preservation and their ultimate dream of building a family. We are here to guide and support you through this special journey in your life and our knowledgeable health team will assist you every step of the way; you are never alone.
Even if you haven’t thought about fertility loss or family planning before your cancer diagnosis, ask IVF Canada fertility specialists to go over your options now.
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