Everything you need to know about fertility preservation in cancer patients
The effectiveness of advanced cancer treatments has led to an increase in survival rates for cancer patients. Both men and woman who have survived cancer can now look forward to a better future. However, they are also concerned about the possibility that infertility may result from the treatment or the disease. This is where Oncofertility can help.
What is Oncofertility?
Oncofertility is treatment for cancer patients. Women and men with cancer can maintain their fertility by using advanced treatment options. You can save your chances of getting pregnant later even if you have cancer of the reproductive system, including the cervix, ovary, and breast.
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How does cancer affect fertility?
Fertility can be affected by cancer if it affects the testes in males as well as the uterus and tubes in females. Conventional surgery involves the surgical removal or destruction of affected organs, leading to total loss of egg/sperm or uterus. There are many times when radiotherapy or chemotherapy is required. This too can adversely affect egg and sperm quality, leading to menopause in some instances.
There are many ways to preserve fertility for patients who have had cancer treatment.
Sperm freezing: The results of a male affected can be obtained from a laboratory and then frozen in multiple containers. This technique is safe for any man who is able to ejaculate.
Testicular Tissue Freezing: Post pubertal women who cannot give semen samples can have their testicular tissues taken. The biopsy contains live Sperms, which can be frozen later for fertility.
Egg Frying: This involves transferring hormones to multiple eggs from women in a time period of 10-12 calendar days. The eggs can then be harvested and frozen prior to starting chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
These eggs can be frozen after treatment for cancer to make embryos with the sperms. They can then be implanted into a woman for pregnancy.
Ovarian cell freezing: For young women where embryo freezing may not be possible or wherein there is cancer, there is an alternative. The ovarian tissue taken from her other ovary can also be removed surgically. After surgery, the tissue is stored in the female’s bladder and is stimulated to produce eggs.
Embryo Freezing For couples with available semen samples, embryos can be made using eggs instead. After harvesting eggs from ovaries, and fusing the sperms, embryos will be created. These are then frozen for fertility preservation and later placed in the uterus for fertilization.
Besides these fertility preservation methods, there is also fertility-sparing surgical options that assist Cancer patients in conceiving after treatment.
Cervix Cancer – This early stage is very rare in women who want to have children. It can be removed and the uterus or womb left intact.
Ovarian Tumours. When there are early low-grade cancers of the ovary, it is possible to perform ovarian preservation surgery. This will save the unaffected eggs and the ovary.
Infertility treatment is not possible for patients who have survived cancer.
Third-party reproduction: The possibility of a third-party pregnancy can be achieved by either egg/sperm from an anonymous donor, or by surrogacy if your uterus does not have the capacity to bear the pregnancy.
Not all fertility preservation methods are appropriate for every patient. The initial assessment includes detailed counselling about the potential for pregnancy based on age and the merits and demerits of the person.
Oncofertility is a way for cancer patients to make a quick decision about what their reproductive goals are for the future. It’s worth the effort.You can plan for a happy family now visit Fertility Clinic and discuss with our experts.
They can give you the best advice about fertility treatment and help you to hold your healthy baby with ease.
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