What should I know about oncofertility?
Oncofertility is a relatively new area of medicine. We sat down with Dr. Pasquale Patrizio, chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and director of the UHealth Center for Reproductive Medicine, to find out what you should know about oncofertility.
What is oncofertility?
Oncofertility is a branch of medicine that bridges oncology care and reproductive medicine. For patients who’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are in their reproductive years, oncofertility helps to preserve their future fertility.
What services are offered?
The UHealth Center for Reproductive Medicine offers egg, sperm, and embryo banking. If the patient is a prepubertal female, we also offer ovarian tissue banking.
Who is eligible for oncofertility services?
Any person, adult or pediatric, with a cancer diagnosis, who has not yet received chemotherapy or radiation, is eligible.
How do I get the process started?
Once you receive a cancer diagnosis, you will be referred to a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist who can discuss your treatment options based on your needs. Use this time to get as much information as possible!
How long does my sample last?
According to Dr. Pasquale Patrizio, samples can last up to 20 years. As a result, oncofertility is a great option for patients not ready to begin family planning.
What happens to my sample if I move to another part of the state or country?
Call us! We can help move your sample to a more convenient location as long as we know where you’re moving.
What barriers exist for patients to get oncofertility treatment?
When a cancer patient receives their diagnosis, there is sometimes an immediate need to begin treatment, and that can prevent some oncofertility treatments from happening. For example, your reproductive medicine team needs two weeks to harvest eggs. If you need to start chemotherapy or radiation immediately after your diagnosis, egg banking is no longer an option.
Insurance can also be a barrier for Florida cancer patients, as oncofertility treatments are not currently covered by most insurance providers. Patients who may already be in distress about their diagnosis would then have to worry about whether or not they can afford oncofertility.
To schedule a consultation with the UHealth Center for Reproductive Medicine, call 305-243-8642.
About Dr. Pasquale Patrizio
Pasquale Patrizio, M.D., MBE, HCLD, FACOG, an internationally renowned specialist in female and male reproductive medicine, is a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences and chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as.