Cancer and Fertility
Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, have the potential to impact fertility. Addressing fertility preservation is crucial after a cancer diagnosis and before starting treatment. With procedures currently performed at ICRM, we can quickly, efficiently, and with a high degree of care assist with preserving fertility when the devastating event of a cancer diagnosis happens.
Fertility Preservation for Women
Options for women to preserve fertility prior to cancer treatement include egg freezing, embryo freezing, and ovarian suppression therapy.
For Egg or Embryo Freezing, the ovaries are stimulated to mature as many eggs as possible using fertility medications for egg extraction, followed by freezing as-is or fertilizing to create embryos for future use. Post-treatment, eggs can be thawed and fertilized, or embryos thawed for pregnancy attempts.
Ovarian suppression is used to cause the ovaries to temporarily shut down, essentially putting patients into a menopausal state during chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment. It is an experimental technique done through monthly injections.
If fertility preservation isn’t an option, alternatives like anonymous ovum donors, gestational carriers, embryo adoption at ICRM, or traditional adoption are available for building a family.
Fertility Preservation for Men
Sperm banking is the most common and effective method of fertility preservation for men before undergoing cancer treatment. This process involves producing one or more semen samples, which are then frozen through cryopreservation and stored for future use. For those who do not bank sperm before treatment, assisted reproductive technologies, utilizing donor sperm, or considering adoption, remain viable options for building a family.
Learn More about fertility preservation from ReproTech, leaders in long-term cryostorage and fertility preservation.
Financial Assistance for Cancer Patients
To assist our patients with fertility preservation prior to cancer treatment, ICRM offers a substantial reduction in our procedure fees. Please speak with our Financial Counselor for details.
External Resources for Additional Financial Support for Cancer Patients:
If you or your partner is facing a cancer diagnosis and you want to understand your options for fertility preservation and future family building, schedule a consultation with us.
We understand that timing is paramount, so we’ll do everything possible to work quickly and effectively as you navigate this challenging time.
