Facing a cancer diagnosis may make you wonder how treatment could affect your ability to have children in the future.
Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, are the most common causes of permanent infertility, making it harder to have biological children. But there are steps you can take to help improve your chances of having a family.
The area of medicine focused on cancer treatment and fertility, called oncofertility, continues to expand. Recent advances in fertility preservation offer more options – for male, female, and adolescent patients.
What Is Oncofertility?
Oncofertility focuses on helping you achieve your goal of having a family when you’re facing a cancer diagnosis. It can help protect against cancer treatments that may affect your reproductive health.
In every case, timing is crucial – especially when medical conditions require treatments that may be harmful to your reproductive system. To give you the best chance of future parenthood, we recommend a multidisciplinary approach. This means your oncologist (cancer doctor) and reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) specialist work together to create a personalized fertility preservation plan in a caring, supportive, and affordable manner.
The good news is that cancer survivors are increasing with improvements in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Fertility preservation for cancer patients can empower you to take control of your future fertility.
How Cancer Treatments Affect Fertility
Coping with cancer treatment and fertility can be challenging. Not everyone experiences fertility issues after cancer treatment. Still, some people may benefit from fertility preservation to improve their reproductive options. Here are ways some cancer treatments can impact fertility in men and women:
- Chemotherapy and infertility. Chemotherapy may damage active cells in the ovaries or testicles. This may impact their ability to produce viable eggs and sperm.
- Radiation and infertility. Radiation may cause damage to the ovaries and uterus in women and girls, affecting female fertility. In men, radiation may damage sperm and lower sperm count.
- Surgeries affecting fertility. Certain surgeries can affect or sometimes remove the organs needed for fertility and pregnancy. These may include testicular or prostate surgeries for men and hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) for women.
- Certain medications. Some medications such as hormone therapies may affect fertility. This may be only a temporary effect of treatment.
Fertility Preservation Options for Cancer Patients
Fertility preservation involves different treatments and options. For example, it may involve cryopreserving (freezing) eggs, sperm, and embryos for use in future fertility procedures. Or it may include care to protect reproductive organs during treatments such as radiation.
Our team offers specialized services for:
Accepted and Endorsed Fertility Preservation Treatments
The following treatments are clinically accepted and endorsed by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the American Society of Clinical Oncology:
- Embryo cryopreservation (freezing)
- Oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing)
- Medical ovarian suppression (stopping or lowering the amount of estrogen produced)
- Ovarian transposition (moving the ovaries out of the way of radiation treatments)
- Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (freezing)
- Testicular transposition (moving the testicles out of the way of radiation treatments)
- Testicular tissue cryopreservation (this is still considered an experimental option and only done for research purposes)
Benefits of Oncofertility
Facing a cancer diagnosis doesn’t mean you need to give up on your dreams of parenthood. Benefits of oncofertility can include:
- Reproductive options. Procedures such as egg freezing, sperm freezing, and embryo freezing can provide options to have a biological child in the future.
- Family planning. Fertility preservation can empower you to start your family when the time is right for you.
- Peace of mind. Taking steps to preserve your future fertility can provide hope for the future.
Success Rates of Fertility Preservation Techniques for Cancer Patients
Fertility preservation success rates can vary. Preservation methods do not guarantee success, but many male and female cancer survivors have had children after undergoing fertility preservation.
Regarding male cancer survivors, the American Cancer Society states, “In general, sperm collected before cancer treatment is just as likely to start a pregnancy as sperm from men without cancer.”
Factors influencing outcomes may include the quality of the sperm and the female’s age at the time her eggs are frozen. Also, the age and overall health of a female at the time of fertility treatment can impact outcomes.
Meet Your Multidisciplinary Team
include photos of Providers (REI & Urology, Oncofertility RN, AYA Social Workers & Outreach Specialist)
With over two decades of combined experience in this complex field, our specialists are pioneers in treating a broad range of disorders that affect fertility in both women and men. One in eight couples experience infertility — or the inability to conceive a child — and the reasons for infertility are many and varied.
Treatment Costs
Our goal is to help you achieve your dreams of having a family in the future, while making your fertility preservation treatment affordable. Prior to your first visit with us, we will verify your insurance fertility benefits. Insurance can help cover initial consultations and diagnostic exams; however, it is not common for insurance to cover treatment.
You will likely need to prepare to pay out of pocket for fertility preservation services, including ongoing storage and maintenance fees and future fertility services. We offer self-pay and financing options to make your fertility treatments accessible in case your insurance does not cover oncofertility services.
Resources to support treatment costs
The Livestrong Foundation can help with the cost of medication for egg or embryo freezing through its partnership with the biotechnology company EMD Serono. The Livestrong Foundation can also help with post-cancer treatment, fresh in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and frozen IVF transfers.
Additionally, the Livestrong Foundation can help male cancer patients with fertility treatment for their partner.
Please note:
- If you do not qualify for Livestrong, you can still apply for pharmacy discounts that can save you 15-50% on some medications (depending on your income).
- Financial institutions specializing in fertility, such as The Lending Club, can assist you with loans based on your credit.
Why Choose Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center?
Patient-centered oncofertility care. The ideal approach to fertility preservation varies based on your needs. Factors like age, pubertal status, diagnosis, planned treatment, and time available before treatment all play a role. We believe in individualized, patient-centered care and can discuss both standard and cutting-edge options Additionally, we offer support and guidance if you have completed treatments that might have affected your fertility.
Minimizing stress. Facing a medical condition and its potential impact on fertility can be overwhelming. We work closely with you to understand your specific risks and fertility preservation options. This ensures you receive the best possible care, focusing not just on fighting your current diagnosis, but also on your long-term health and well-being.
Support for every part of your life. Our team of psychologists, social workers, nutritionists, pain management professionals, and others work on behalf of you and your family members. This includes dedicated therapy and health services to support you throughout your treatment and beyond.
Focus on urgency. Early action is key, particularly when treatments pose a risk to fertility. Our compassionate team works closely with you to explore fertility preservation options and prioritize your consultations in our schedule.
We’ll meet your needs wherever you are in your oncofertility treatment journey.
- Prioritized fertility preservation consultations. This service is for patients facing medical treatments that could affect their future fertility. If your treatment is about to begin very soon, your medical team can request a rush consultation with a fertility specialist (in person or virtual). During this urgent appointment, the fertility specialist will discuss any risks to fertility and available options for preserving it. This might involve freezing, eggs (oocytes), embryos, sperm, or reproductive tissue before treatment starts. For egg or embryo freezing we need at least 14 days before oncology treatment. For sperm freezing we need two days. For ovarian or testicular tissue freezing we will need xxx days.
- Non-urgent fertility consultations. This option is for patients who have some time before their treatment begins. If your treatment is planned for a later date, we can schedule a convenient appointment (in person or virtual) with one of our fertility specialists. During this consultation, the specialist will discuss the potential impact of your planned treatment on fertility. They will also work with you and your family to explore suitable fertility preservation options.
- Fertility status assessment for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. This is for adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients who would like to know their fertility status after the completion of cancer therapy. For females, we offer ovarian reserve assessment, which can tell young patients how many eggs they have remaining compared to other people their age. For males, we provide semen analysis and interpretation, which can tell the volume and quality of sperm.
- Preserving fertility after treatment: While planning ahead with fertility preservation before treatment is ideal, we understand that's not always possible. The Sylvester Cancer Center Survivorship Program helps you and your family navigate the long-term effects of treatment, including potential fertility issues.
Our dedicated team of fertility nurse navigators and outreach will guide you through the process and ensure you receive any specialized services you may require.
Questions? We're here to help.
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