Oncofertility is an emerging field that looks at how cancer treatment affects fertility. It aims to help cancer patients explore ways to keep their fertility intact, even when they need aggressive medical interventions.
Treatments for cancer, like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries, can take a toll on reproductive health. They might harm reproductive organs, throw hormone levels off balance, and hinder the production of sperm or eggs. This can lead to infertility or a decrease in fertility after treatment. For those who can still have children, exploring fertility preservation options before starting cancer treatments is really important for the future.
Specialists in oncofertility guide patients in discussing their options for preserving fertility before they begin cancer treatment. These options can include sperm banking for men, freezing eggs or embryos for women, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, and hormonal therapies to safeguard fertility during treatment. The goal is to empower patients to make informed choices about their reproductive health and open up the possibility of having biological children later on, if they wish.
Oncofertility treatment involves various methods to help cancer patients preserve their ability to have children before undergoing treatments that might affect fertility. The focus is on ensuring that they can still have biological children in the future.
Here are some common methods:
Men can freeze sperm samples for future use in assisted reproductive techniques, like in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI). This is a common and simple way to preserve fertility.
Also referred to as oocyte cryopreservation, this method stimulates a woman’s ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The eggs are collected, frozen, and stored for later use. This is a great option for women who are single or prefer not to use donor sperm.
In this process, eggs are collected from a woman, fertilized with sperm (from a partner or donor), creating embryos that are then frozen for future use. Couples going through IVF often choose this route if they have extra embryos, and it can also benefit single women aiming to preserve fertility.
These medications temporarily suppress ovarian function during cancer treatment, helping to protect the ovaries and keep fertility intact. They are sometimes used together with other preservation methods.
Oncofertility specialists collaborate with fertility experts to create personalized plans for each cancer patient. They provide the counseling and support needed to help patients understand their reproductive options prior to starting treatment.
At Dr. Pankaj Talwar’s IVF Centre, we believe it’s vital for cancer patients to talk about fertility preservation options with our healthcare team as soon as they are diagnosed. This helps maximize the likelihood of success. Each person’s situation is different, and the best preservation method will depend on age, cancer type, treatment plan, and personal choices.
Feel free to reach out to Dr. Pankaj Talwar, one of the top IVF specialists in Gurugram