Egg Freezing and Fertility Preservation
What Is Egg Freezing and Fertility Preservation?
Fertility preservation is a proactive approach to safeguarding an individual’s ability to have biological children in the future. In simple terms, fertility preservation allows patients to freeze and store reproductive materials — like eggs, sperm, or embryos — so the reproductive tissues can be used at a later time when the patient is ready to pursue parenthood. Fertility preservation can be significant for young adults or adolescents diagnosed with cancer who may not yet have had the chance to start their families.
In recent years, many women have chosen to postpone pregnancy for personal, professional, or health-related reasons. While this is becoming increasingly common, age remains one of the most critical factors influencing fertility. Women are most fertile between the ages of 20 and 28. By age 35, the monthly chance of conception decreases by about half, and by age 45, the natural monthly fertility rate is approximately 1%.
To help preserve future family-building options, NCCRM offers egg-freezing services for women up to age 38. Although still considered relatively new, egg-freezing has shown encouraging results, with hundreds of healthy babies born in the United States from preserved eggs. It’s important to understand that outcomes are closely tied to a woman’s age at the time of freezing. For example, if a woman freezes her eggs at 37, her expected pregnancy success rate when those eggs are thawed and fertilized will reflect her fertility potential at that age, around 35%.
At NCCRM, we believe in creating opportunities that not only empower you but also offer hope to families dreaming of having a child. Our Give and Preserve Program is designed to support women who are interested in both helping others and exploring fertility preservation for themselves.
The Fertility Preservation Process
Consultation
The process begins with a consultation with one of our physicians, followed by prescreening laboratory work that includes hormone testing, pre-conception screening, and evaluations of the ovarian and uterine.
Medication
You’ll receive injectable medications to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This ensures the best chances of retrieving high-quality eggs for freezing or fertilization. Ultrasounds and blood tests are conducted to monitor your progress and adjust medications as needed. Our team prioritizes safety and comfort throughout this stage, especially for women with PCOS, who may have a heightened risk of ovarian hyperstimulation.
Retrieval
Next, the patient will meet with a nurse to discuss the stimulation process and receive training on medication injection. Once the cycle begins, fertility medications stimulate egg production, and frequent lab work and ultrasounds will track the eggs’ development. A final injection will be administered to mature the eggs for retrieval.
Preservation
Approximately 36 hours later, the eggs will be retrieved vaginally with ultrasound guidance under intravenous sedation. They will then be frozen and stored in the IVF laboratory for future use. The entire process, from screening to egg freezing, typically takes approximately two months.
Fertility Preservation for Cancer Patients
A cancer diagnosis brings with it a whirlwind of decisions, emotions, and uncertainties. For many, one of the major concerns is how treatment may impact their ability to have children in the future. With advancements in cancer therapies, survival rates continue to improve, but the reality is that specific treatments—like chemotherapy and radiation—can have long-lasting effects on fertility. This is where fertility preservation becomes crucial.
Fertility preservation for cancer patients offers hope, allowing individuals to safeguard their reproductive potential before starting life-saving treatments. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or supporting a loved one facing this challenge, understanding your options for fertility preservation can be an empowering step in planning for the future.
Let’s explore the different fertility preservation methods available to cancer patients, the timing and steps involved, and how working with a specialized clinic like NCCRM can provide personalized care throughout your journey. By the end, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of preserving fertility during this critical time, giving you peace of mind for the future.
Why It Matters for Cancer Patients
Many cancer treatments, while vital for survival, can cause temporary or permanent damage to reproductive cells and organs. For women, treatments may deplete egg reserves or damage the ovaries. For men, they can affect sperm production or damage the testes. By taking steps to preserve fertility before treatment begins, patients can have a backup plan for future family-building, even if their fertility is compromised during cancer treatment.
Timing Is Critical
One of the most critical factors in fertility preservation is timing. Because fertility preservation procedures typically need to be done before cancer treatment begins, cancer patients are advised to consult with a fertility specialist as soon as possible after diagnosis. Delaying can reduce the chances of successful preservation and increase the risks of infertility later on. This is why having a dedicated fertility team, like NCCRM, to work alongside the oncology team is crucial in helping patients make timely, informed decisions.
How Cancer Treatments Impact Fertility
Cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and certain surgeries are designed to attack cancer cells, but they can also damage healthy cells, including those in the reproductive system. For many cancer patients, especially younger individuals, the possibility of infertility becomes a significant concern. Understanding how these treatments impact fertility can help patients make informed decisions about preserving their reproductive future.
Chemotherapy and Its Effects on Fertility
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for many types of cancer, and it works by targeting rapidly dividing cells, which include cancer cells. Unfortunately, reproductive cells—eggs in women and sperm in men—are also rapidly dividing, making them vulnerable to chemotherapy’s effects.
- For Women: Chemotherapy can damage the ovaries, reducing the number of healthy eggs, which can lead to temporary or permanent infertility, depending on the type of chemotherapy, the dosage, and the woman’s age at the time of treatment. Younger women generally have more eggs and may have a better chance of retaining fertility after treatment, but there are no guarantees. Chemotherapy may also bring on early menopause, further complicating fertility outcomes.
- For Men: In men, chemotherapy can damage sperm cells or halt sperm production altogether. Depending on the type of drugs used, sperm production may recover after treatment, but in some cases, the damage is permanent. Younger men may have a better chance of regaining fertility, but sperm freezing before treatment remains the safest option to preserve the ability to father biological children later.
Radiation Therapy and Fertility
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells in specific body areas. The impact of radiation on fertility depends mainly on the part of the body being treated and the dosage of radiation.
- For Women: If radiation is directed at or near the pelvis, it can harm the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and other reproductive organs. This damage can result in reduced ovarian function or premature ovarian failure, where the ovaries stop working earlier than expected. Radiation can also affect the lining of the uterus, making it difficult for a woman to carry a pregnancy to term. Protective techniques may reduce some risks, such as ovarian shielding or moving the ovaries out of the radiation field (called ovarian transposition).
- For Men: When radiation is directed near the testes, it can damage sperm production, leading to infertility. Even when radiation is aimed at other body parts, the scattered radiation can affect reproductive organs, though at a lower risk. Testicular shielding can sometimes protect against radiation’s harmful effects on fertility.
Surgery and Its Impact on Fertility
In some cases, surgery is necessary to remove cancerous tissue or tumors, but this can sometimes involve the removal of reproductive organs, leading to permanent infertility.
- For Women: If a woman undergoes surgery to remove her ovaries (oophorectomy) or uterus (hysterectomy), her ability to conceive naturally will be affected. Depending on the type of cancer and its location, some surgeries may preserve fertility, but it’s crucial to have these conversations with both the oncologist and a fertility specialist.
- For Men: Certain surgeries, particularly those involving the removal of the testes (orchiectomy) due to testicular cancer, can result in infertility. Surgeries that affect the prostate or surrounding areas can also lead to difficulties with ejaculation or sperm production.
Hormonal Therapies and Fertility
In addition to chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, some cancer treatments involve the use of hormonal therapies, especially in cancers like breast or prostate cancer, which are hormone-sensitive. These therapies can disrupt average hormone production, which is necessary for reproductive health and function.
- For Women: Hormonal therapies may suppress ovarian function, preventing ovulation and reducing fertility during and sometimes after treatment. For some women, normal reproductive function returns after therapy, while others may experience long-term effects.
- For Men: Hormonal therapies used to treat prostate cancer can reduce testosterone levels, which is necessary for sperm production. These treatments may cause temporary infertility, though fertility may return once therapy ends.